WINDSOR, ON (February 1, 2019) – Erie Hack 2.0, an innovative water-solutions competition that attracts the best and brightest from around the Great Lakes basin to find innovative tech solutions to environmental challenges facing Lake Erie kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 7 in six cities.

Erie Hack invites researchers, designers, engineers, developers, entrepreneurs and creatives around the region to build teams, develop innovations and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes – including a $50,000 Grand Prize.

Individuals and teams can register at: www.eriehack.io

Windsor – as the sole Canadian partner city – joins Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo, Erie and Buffalo as hosts of the five-month Erie Hack competition that culminates in a Finals Competition in Cleveland coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Cuyahoga River Fire.

Erie Hack is led by Cleveland Water Alliance, a non-profit organization that leads a network of corporations, universities, research institutions, public agencies and utilities dedicated to building a “blue economy” around innovation and technology on the lake.

Locally, the Erie Hacks competition is being coordinated by TechTown Detroit and WEtech Alliance, in partnership with GLIER and members of the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Science and School of Engineering.

“The prosperity of our region is tied to the Blue Economy, with Great Lakes water supporting our agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and unique quality of life,” says Yvonne Pilon, President and CEO of WEtech Alliance. “At the same time, clean water technology not only helps sustain Lake Erie and that quality of life, but adds to it by creating jobs and investment”.
In 2017, the last time Erie Hack was organized, a team of engineering graduate students from Wayne State University took home the Grand Prize for the creation of a micro-buoy with nutrient sensing technology: http://www.greatlakestoday.org/post/erie-hack-grand-prize-goes-wayne-state-team

WEtech Alliance is hosting an Open House information session for those interested in competing on Tuesday, February 5th at the University of Windsor EPICentre between 4-5pm.

TIMELINE:

February 5th: Open House at University of Windsor – EPICentre – 2nd Floor – 4-5pm

February 7th: Kick-Off and Registration Opens

March 31st: Team Registration Closes

April 13th: Quarter Finals at Tech Town Detroit

June 6th: Regional Semi-Finals at Tech Town Detroit

June 20th: Finals at Water Summit in Cleveland

CHALLENGES:

STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGES
Mitigate Nutrient Loading and Its Environmental Impacts
Reduce and Remediate Urban Pollution

INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES
Cultivate Resilience in Water Infrastructure Systems
Manage Aging Water Infrastructure Systems

SOCIAL AWARENESS CHALLENGES
Connect Communities to the Value of Water
Drive the Creation of Meaningful Data

WATER EQUITY CHALLENGE
Enable a More Equitable Water Future

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Media Contact:
Dr. Irek Kusmierczyk
WEtech Alliance – Director of Partnerships
E: ikusmierczyk@wetech-alliance.com
P: 519.990.3132

About Cleveland Water Alliance: Established in 2014, CWA is a non-profit organization that seeks to better utilize the economic and job-creating potential of Lake Erie while also urging greater care of this valuable, natural asset. We are among the region’s leaders working to bring together Northeast Ohio’s water providers, business and political leaders, researchers and environmental organizations to establish Cleveland as a nationally recognized center for water innovation.

About WEtech Alliance: As one of seventeen Regional Innovation Centres in the Province of Ontario, and funded by the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, WEtech Alliance is positioned to provide access to a broad suite of business advisory programs, funding opportunities and to an extensive network of entrepreneurs, mentors and resources that can fuel your company’s growth.