Québec’s flagship water technology commercialization program is now accepting applications for the 2026 edition, as two new partnerships with Groupe Helios and the Centre d’excellence en efficacité énergétique (C3E) expand opportunities for real‑world deployment across the province.
Soula Chronopoulos, AquaAction, and François Bordeleau, President and CEO, C3E, during the announcement at STEQ 2026
Québec City, QC, March 18, 2026— As pressures linked to water scarcity and pollution intensify, threatening a resource that sits at the heart of Québec’s identity and economic resilience, the province is renewing its commitment to supporting local water‑tech companies to meet these urgent challenges.
During the Salon des technologies environnementales du Québec 2026, Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction, announced the opening of applications for AquaEntrepreneur, the only program in Québec fully dedicated to commercializing breakthrough technologies in the water sector.
Backed by $1.5 million in funding over three years from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE), AquaEntrepreneur is seeking 15 Québec‑based water technology companies ready to bring their solutions to market to tackle critical water challenges in the municipal, industrial, mining, agri‑food and infrastructure sectors.
Ms. Chronopoulos also announced two major new partnerships:
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A first partnership with Aquatech, Services des Eaux du Québec Inc. (Groupe Helios), which will give AquaEntrepreneur participants access to concrete pilot projects within a network of 200 water treatment facilities across Québec, adding to the partners already supporting pilot deployment for Québec companies.
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A second partnership with the Centre d’excellence en efficacité énergétique (C3E) to support the commercialization and internationalization of water technologies with energy‑related impact.
Now in its fifth edition, AquaEntrepreneur continues to demonstrate a strong return on investment and tangible impact. To date, the program has supported 61 companies, contributed to the creation of more than 245 pilot projects and contracts representing over $29 million in revenue, and most importantly, helped Québec companies save billions of litres of water.
AquaEntrepreneur is a 10‑month program designed to help Québec water‑tech companies grow, scale and strengthen the longevity of their impact through personalized support, pilot projects, water and carbon impact valuation, visibility and networking opportunities, and technical assistance to accelerate commercialization and scale‑up.
In addition to MEIE’s support, the program is backed by private‑sector partners including Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien, RBC, Ovivo, Glencore, La Vie en Rose and Lavery, and provides access to concrete pilot opportunities through partnerships with IVÉO, Réseau Environnement, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, CTEAU and Oxia Initiative.
Water‑technology companies are invited to apply here: https://aquaaction.org/en/aquaentrepreneur
Simon Beauchamp, President, Aquatech Services des Eaux du Québec, Groupe HELIOS, during the announcement at STEQ 2026
Quotes
“Water is at the heart of Québec’s identity, but it is also the foundation of our economy, our industries, our communities, and our sovereignty. Everything depends on safe and sustainable water systems. In Québec, we have the talent and ingenuity to tackle our water challenges. AquaEntrepreneur aims to develop solutions here at home, invest in our young entrepreneurs, and bring their products to market.”
- Soula Chronopoulos, President, AquaAction
“As one of Québec’s largest operators of water‑treatment infrastructure, Aquatech Services des Eaux du Québec plays a key role in protecting and enhancing this essential resource for the municipalities and communities we serve. Through this partnership with AquaEntrepreneur, we are helping integrate and develop innovative technologies that will improve facility performance and environmental outcomes, while strengthening water treatment as a cornerstone of sustainable water management in Québec.”
- Simon Beauchamp, President, Aquatech Services des Eaux du Québec, Groupe HELIOS
“C3E is very pleased with this new partnership, which strengthens our ability to offer even more effective support to companies in the water–energy sector. We believe strongly that building solid alliances with established players enhances complementary expertise and generates lasting impact. Together, through coordinated and coherent action, we will be better equipped to support companies and contribute to Québec’s economic leadership.”
— François Bordeleau, President and CEO, C3E
“Québec has the potential to become a global leader in water technologies. AquaEntrepreneur demonstrates that when entrepreneurs, municipalities, industry and investors join forces, we can build companies that strengthen both our economy and the protection of our freshwater resources.”
— François de Gaspé Beaubien, Founding Chair, AquaAction
“Water is a precious and fragile resource. It is essential for me, for us, for our customers, for our employees, and for future generations to take concrete action. We need to move forward step by step. I’ve made it my mission to lead by example before the end of my career.”
— François Roberge, President, La Vie en Rose
“At Ovivo, our mission is to develop and deliver sustainable water‑treatment solutions for today and for future generations. AquaAction fully embodies this ambition by supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs who turn innovation into tangible impact. That is why we are proud to support the 5th edition of AquaEntrepreneur Québec.”
-Pierre‑Marc Sarrazin, Chief Investment and Development Officer, Ovivo
“At Glencore Canada, we recognize that responsible water management is essential to the long‑term sustainability of our operations and the communities where we operate. AquaEntrepreneur provides a unique platform to accelerate Québec innovation, and we are proud to support a program that transforms promising technologies into real‑world solutions. By bringing innovators together with industrial partners, AquaEntrepreneur strengthens our collective ability to protect water resources while driving economic growth and environmental performance across Québec.”
— Sheila Ribsud, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Glencore
Quick facts
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AquaEntrepreneur’s impact to date:
- 61 companies supported
- 60 pilot projects completed; 245 opportunities in progress
- Over $29M in new public and private contracts
- 14× return on investment
- 68 new jobs created in the blue economy; 249 jobs secured
- 26 patents filed
- Water savings equivalent to 38,500 Olympic‑size swimming pools, validated through ISO 14046‑compliant water‑impact reporting
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Global studies foresee the water‑technology market reaching $600 billion by 2030, and potentially $1 trillion in the following years, positioning water technologies among the world’s largest, most stable, infrastructure‑linked growth markets, and increasingly attractive to institutional and infrastructure investors.
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AquaEntrepreneur addresses structural market barriers by reducing adoption risk, mobilizing public and private capital, protecting Québec’s IP and talent, and aligning innovation with the priorities of critical infrastructure and watershed management.
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By connecting water‑technology innovators with municipalities and industrial partners, AquaEntrepreneur reduces risks associated with pilot deployments and opens access to real‑world pilots, funding and risk‑sharing mechanisms to scale proven solutions.
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Pilot‑Access Partners
- IVÉO – Connects Québec municipalities with innovative solutions as a neutral intermediary, facilitates pilot deployment and ensures joint follow‑up between cities and companies.
- Réseau Environnement – Showcases companies ready for pilot projects through high‑visibility events such as its “Dragons’ Den”-style competition.
- Centre des Technologies de l’eau (CTEAU) – Supports pilot‑project structuring and provides independent scientific validation to facilitate municipal adoption.
- Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative – Provides access to more than 400 municipalities and regional water summits.
About AquaAction
At AquaAction, we develop leaders to protect and restore our most vital resource: freshwater. We empower people, from young innovators to community advocates, to protect and restore freshwater through innovation, advocacy, and conservation. By supporting entrepreneurship, advancing education and awareness, and driving policy change, we help communities build resilience and ensure access to clean water for generations to come. Our mission is simple yet profound: a generation of leaders safeguarding freshwater for the health of people and the planet.
Contact
Melanie Fontaine
Senior Manager, Media and Communications
melanie.fontaine@aquaaction.org