How the AquaHacking Challenge Can Mobilizing University of Windsor’s Innovators to Solve Water Issues
The following announcement is being shared on behalf of the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER).
Windsor is at the heart of the Great Lakes economy, a region powered by freshwater. Yet the same water that sustains communities and ecosystems faces mounting pressures: harmful algal blooms, invasive species, aging water infrastructure, expanding data centre demand, and pollutants, to name just a few.
The future strength of the region, and the entire Great Lakes, rests on navigating these complex challenges with creativity and purpose.
That is where there is a window of opportunity for young innovators to make their mark.
Since 2015, the AquaHacking Challenge has been mobilizing thousands of young innovators to develop real, practical solutions to freshwater issues. Now celebrating a major milestone as a Clean50 2026 Top Project, the program is preparing for its most ambitious edition yet.
This year marks the launch of the AquaHacking Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Challenge, a 7‑month entrepreneurial program designed to equip emerging innovators with the tools, guidance, and support needed to create real-world solutions to the most pressing water issues. The challenge connects students and young professionals from across the region with water, technology, and business experts.
This year, the AquaHacking Challenge aims to reach new heights. AquaAction, the charity behind the initiative, is seeking 1,000 applicants from across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region, making this the largest challenge in the program’s 10‑year history. It’s a life-changing opportunity for University of Windsor students to springboard their careers, applying their skills to confront the big water issues we face.
Now Recruiting Innovators
University of Windsor students are invited to submit their applications by April 6th, 2026, to a course that offers students the chance to join a dynamic, interdisciplinary community dedicated to protecting freshwater. There is no cost to join.
Once selected, participants, usually in teams of two to five, will spend months developing their ideas into actionable, market‑ready solutions. Teams will take part in a 7‑month journey where they will receive guidance to refine their concept, evaluate technical feasibility and creating strong business plans.
Besides business coaching and mentorship, students will also get access to investors and industry networks that can help accelerate their projects and impact.
It all boils down to a grand finale Dragon’s Den style pitch that will take place across the water in Detroit in early November, where teams will get the chance to win up to $70,000 in seed funding to further propel their innovative water businesses.
AquaHacking has been transformative to dozens of past participants. Teams have gone on to launch successful startups, secure additional funding, and implement their solutions in real communities. For students seeking hands‑on experience and meaningful impact, the challenge offers something rare: the chance to innovate in a field where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A Call to Students from All Disciplines
One of the most exciting aspects of the AquaHacking Challenge is its multidisciplinary approach. Water issues are complex, and solutions rarely fit into a single academic box, which is why the program welcomes participants from all fields of study.
Whether you’re an engineering undergrad designing new sensing technologies, a business student interested in cleantech entrepreneurship, an environmental science major studying watershed system, or simply someone passionate about climate action, your perspective is needed.
You don’t need to be a water expert. You just need curiosity, creativity, and the drive to make a difference.
For students, the AquaHacking Binational Challenge is an opportunity to work on real water issues and add significant experience to your résumé. If you’ve been searching for a chance to turn your ideas into action, or to see how your academic background can contribute to solving water issues, this is your chance.
Join us for an info session and networking event on March 13, co-hosted with the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Freshwater Research!
Agenda:
- 11:30 – 12:00 Info Session
- 12:00 – 12:30 Q & A
- 12:30 – 1:30 Team Building & Networking Session
Location: Alex S. Davidson Conference room
Register today: https://bit.ly/3ZU8LAc
