Reimagining the bathroom: WARF, TOTO launch new Challenge Grant

WARF Accelerator will award 2-3 grants from a $100K pool with the possibility of receiving TOTO products applicable to the research projects awarded. The awarded projects will receive funds in the range of $5,000 to $40,000 from the total pool.

CONTACT:
Jeanan Yasiri Moe
Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
[email protected] | (608) 960-9892

MADISON, Wis. - What will the bathroom of the future look like?

From AI-enabled fixtures and advanced materials to smart sensors, sustainability solutions and personalized wellness experiences, the bathroom is rapidly evolving beyond its traditional role. To help drive the next wave of innovation, WARF and TOTO have partnered to launch a new WARF Accelerator Challenge Grant focused on reimagining residential, commercial and institutional (healthcare facilities, care homes, athletic facilities, etc.) bathroom spaces.

Principal Investigators (PIs) and their teams interested in helping shape the next generation of intelligent, sustainable and personalized bathroom environments are invited to submit a brief disclosure form and questionnaire by October 30, 2026. Learn more and submit.

"Innovation begins with interrogating the ordinary," says Taro Muroi, CEO of TOTO USA. "The bathroom is one of the most familiar spaces in our lives, yet advances in technology are continually expanding what it can do and what we can ask of it. Our partnership with WARF and UW-Madison invites researchers to challenge assumptions, pursue unexpected ideas, and imagine what comes next."

Researchers are encouraged to submit bold (even early-stage) concepts that could redefine how people experience bathroom spaces. Areas of interest include connected technologies, smart sensors, AI-enabled systems, human health and wellness, advanced ceramic materials, water efficiency, toilet designs, accessibility and sustainability.

Criteria include:

• Project team must include a PI at UW-Madison or Morgridge Institute for Research
• Concepts must be new (not something previously disclosed to WARF)
• Technical readiness
• Commercial potential

A team of WARF and TOTO staff will evaluate and select proposals. Proposed research should be completed within a year.

"Innovation often begins by rethinking the spaces we use every day. Through our partnership with TOTO, we're excited to support UW-Madison researchers who are developing technologies that could transform bathrooms into smarter, healthier and more sustainable environments for people around the world," says Erik Iverson, CEO of WARF.

For questions contact Michael Carey, licensing manager, at [email protected], 608-960-9867.

About WARF

Incorporated in 1925, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) patents and licenses discoveries from UW-Madison research, manages an investment portfolio generated from licensing and investment proceeds, and provides annual grants to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research to support further scientific investigation and research. By driving collaborations among researchers, investors, industry and entrepreneurs, WARF commercializes innovations from campus through various initiatives. WARF Accelerator improves the commercialization potential of university intellectual property through industry engagement and investment in proof-of-concept milestones to validate market potential, demonstrate commercial value and de-risk technology. WARF Therapeutics partners with UW-Madison and Morgridge Institute researchers employing an industry-focused approach to improve the value propositions of drug candidates. WARF Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in startups based on UW/WARF technologies. Learn more at warf.org.

About TOTO

TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO LTD in Kitakyushu, Japan. TOTO is the world's largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings, with approximately $4.8 billion USD in annual net sales (for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025). For more than a century, TOTO has been recognized as the leader in innovation, technology, performance, and design, offering products that enhance the luxury bathroom experience. The company employs approximately 32,968 people globally as of March 31, 2025. Today, the TOTO Global Group operates in 17 countries, with manufacturing facilities and offices located around the world - including Japan, the United States, Mexico, Germany, India, China, and other markets - and delivers high-quality bathroom solutions to customers worldwide. TOTO is dedicated to engineering products that respect the environment while meeting people's comfort, beauty, and performance needs. Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only manufacturer honored as a Water Efficiency Leader by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information, consumers may call 1-888-295-8134, option 5. Follow TOTO on X (@TOTOUSA) and Instagram (@TOTOUSA) and become a TOTO fan on Facebook.

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