Keep doing it anyway. They still haven't gotten to market, and I want choices when it comes to my post apocalyptic water suitcases.

Zero reason to stop. Until this is put into practice it's just another article promising a future that isn't here.

Sounds like a great thing to include in your resume if you want them to hire you to keep working on it. Assuming theirs is better and succeeds.

Maybe you could contact them to do some joint work? If they've proven out the concept, the next step is scale up. And that's a gigantic fucking step. I should think they'll want people who are very familiar with the technology instead of people they have to train from the start. Alternatively, since this is in academia, you could work with them on commercializing it.

You've got options! I think it's probably wise to consider your next moves at this point, since they'd be likely to beat you to a patent :/.

Good luck my friend, I'm rooting for you! And if I had more expertise in transient fluid and heat dynamics I'd offer some of my help.