President and CEO of The Water Institute Beaux Jones
BATON ROUGE, La. (Mar. 19, 2026) — Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a division of Louisiana Economic Development (LED), has announced the launch of the Water Innovation Studio of Louisiana, a new initiative developed in partnership with The Water Institute to accelerate the development, testing, and commercialization of technologies addressing critical water challenges.
The initiative aims to strengthen Louisiana’s global leadership in water management while creating new pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across the state’s growing environmental technology sector.
“Louisiana’s relationship with water has shaped our industries and communities for generations,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “The Water Innovation Studio builds on that foundation by pairing applied technology with real-world expertise, ensuring that new ideas can be tested, commercialized, and scaled here at home. By advancing innovation in a sector where we already lead, we are strengthening the industries that power Louisiana and creating new opportunities for long-term growth.”
Located at The Water Institute, the Water Innovation Studio will support researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs working to develop solutions related to flooding, aquifer depletion, stormwater management, and coastal risk. The initiative is designed to provide a clear pathway from research and development to market deployment.
“Louisiana doesn’t have the luxury of studying water challenges from a distance — we live them,” said Beaux Jones, President and CEO of The Water Institute. “The Water Innovation Studio creates a place where new ideas can be tested against real conditions, alongside the communities and systems that manage water every day.”
Founded in 2011 following a series of devastating hurricanes and oil spills, The Water Institute brings more than a decade of applied research experience focused on improving resilience for communities, ecosystems, and industries in Louisiana and beyond.
The Water Innovation Studio represents a key component of Louisiana Innovation’s broader strategy to strengthen the infrastructure needed to accelerate commercialization statewide. As the state’s innovation arm, LA.IO connects industry expertise, research institutions, and capital providers to move emerging technologies from concept to scalable enterprise.
“Water management is one of Louisiana’s defining strengths, and innovation is how we build on it,” said Josh Fleig, Chief Innovation Officer at LED. “The Water Innovation Studio ensures that new ideas move into real-world deployment and the marketplace here at home, translating innovation into measurable economic impact.”
At launch, the Studio will operate two core programs designed to support technology development and market adoption.
The first program, Headwaters, is being developed in partnership with The Idea Village and focuses on early-stage innovation. The program will pair domain experts with entrepreneurial mentorship, prototyping resources, and market validation tools to help innovators assess solution viability and identify pathways to commercialization.
“Breakthrough ideas don’t become companies on their own,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village. “Programs like Headwaters give builders the space, mentorship, and momentum they need to transform concepts into scalable businesses.”
The second program, Confluence, will support technologies that are ready to move beyond early development. Through this initiative, the Water Innovation Studio will facilitate pilot deployments, connect innovators with strategic partners, and help secure the funding necessary to bring solutions to market.
Together, these programs are expected to reinforce Louisiana’s position as a national center for water expertise while supporting the growth of a new generation of water-focused startups and technology companies.
About The Water Institute
The Water Institute is an independent applied research organization dedicated to reducing the vulnerability of communities, ecosystems, and economies through science-driven approaches to complex environmental challenges. Headquartered in Louisiana, the Institute works across government, industry, academia, and community stakeholders to advance actionable research and planning.
About The Idea Village
Founded in 2000, The Idea Village supports entrepreneurship across New Orleans and the Gulf South through mentorship, accelerator programs, and access to capital. The organization has supported more than 23,700 entrepreneurs, with alumni companies generating over $2 billion in regional economic impact.
About Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO)
Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a division of Louisiana Economic Development, drives a statewide mission to strengthen core industries through innovation. The organization connects founders with capital, supports partnerships across the innovation ecosystem, and advances high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to position Louisiana as a national leader in innovation-driven economic development.
Media Contact:
Emma Wagner
Communications Director, Louisiana Economic Development
Emma.Wagner@la.gov
912-467-2117
