Pioneering innovative solutions to Prairie water issues: Launching the 2025 AquaHacking Prairies Challenge

Canmore, Alberta – May 6, 2025 – AquaAction is flowing vital freshwater innovation support to the Prairies with the launch of the 2025 AquaHacking Prairies Challenge. This initiative gives emerging water tech entrepreneurs the chance at tools and seed funding, empowering them to pioneer business solutions to the region’s pressing water challenges.

AquaAction President Soula Chronopoulos announces the Challenge today at the Protecting Canada’s freshwater discussion hosted by the University of Calgary in Canmore, Alberta.

The Prairies have faced relentless water crises - flooding, drought and wildfires – that have devastated communities, farmers and first nations groups alike.
In response, AquaAction has partnered with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, and Alberta Innovates to launch the Challenge, and invites young scientists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to come-up with scalable solutions.

Interested participants have until July 7 to register. Those selected will embark on a transformative 8-month journey, gaining access to mentorship, tools and resources to transform ideas into impactful startups that benefit the environment, economy, and communities—both urban and rural.

The Challenge culminates in February 2026 with the Top 3 winners sharing $35,000 of prize seed funding. Innovations will address critical Prairie freshwater issues, including Invasive Species Management, Small-Scale Agricultural Water Management, and Small-Scale & Community Decision-Making Tools for Extreme Water Events.

Help spread the word and encourage innovators to join!

The solutions created today will safeguard Canada’s freshwater for generations to come.

Quotes:

“The Prairies are facing unprecedented water challenges, with 27% of the region experiencing drought conditions, including 23% of its agricultural landscape. The need for innovative water solutions has never been more urgent. Through this AquaHacking Challenge, in partnership with Alberta Innovates, CIER, PrairiesCan, and the Canada Water Agency, we are mobilizing the next generation of innovators to develop cutting-edge water technologies. By fostering collaboration and integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, we are taking meaningful action to build a water-secure future for our communities and ecosystems. Indigenous leadership and participation are essential to this work, ensuring that solutions respect and align with traditional knowledge and stewardship practices.”

- Soula Chronopoulos, President - AquaAction

“As long as the grass grows and the rivers flow, it is the responsibility of the leaders of today to help mentor and guide the leaders of tomorrow. With these innovative technologies that solve water issues, the water is being protected and honoured to sustain the next seven generations.”

- Shianne McKay, Senior Project Manager – CIER

“Alberta Innovates solves some of the province's biggest challenges by supporting research and business growth. The 2025 AquaHacking Prairies Challenge embodies our commitment to growth, sustainability, and tackling critical water issues. Engaging game-changers early in their career, by giving them the tools to bring their ideas to life, is essential to creating a more sustainable and prosperous Alberta”

- Vicki Lightbown, PEng, Executive Director, Environmental Innovation - Alberta Innovates

Quick Facts:

• Learn more about the AquaHacking Prairies Challenge here: bit.ly/AHPrairies
  
• Through its flagship programs, including AquaHacking, AquaAction has catalyzed the launch of over 100 water tech enterprises, that have resulted in:
  
  • more than $200M in economic impact
  • over 400 new jobs in North America
    
  • over 38,0000 olympic swimming pools of water saved
    
  • countless other environmental benefits to watersheds.
    
• To see examples of past winners of AquaHacking and their innovations, see here: https://aquaaction.org/en/portfolio/tech-solutions
  
• Co-designed to incorporate a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, the program will welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadian post-secondary students and young professionals eager to apply their skills and talent in a hands-on way to address the freshwater crisis.
  
• The three categories of the Challenges are:
  
  • Invasive Species Management: Focus on nature-based solutions to control and prevent invasive species.
    
  • Small-Scale Agricultural Water Management: Enhance drought resilience, improve irrigation, prevent evaporation and runoff, and support local food security and sovereignty.
    
  • Small-Scale & Community Decision-Making Tools for Extreme Water Events: Provide accessible data and cost-benefit tools to empower communities in building resilient, sustainable green and low-impact infrastructure
    
• The Prairies AquaHacking Challenge is proudly supported and funded by the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, RBC Tech For Nature, Ovivo, Alberta Innovates, Canada Water Agency and Prairies Economic Development Canada.
  
• Droughts in the Prairies cause devastating economic impacts felt across the whole country, due to the impacts on crop production and overall food prices and shortages. In 2021, due to severe drought, crop production in Saskatchewan fell by a record high of 47% (CCI).
  
• Wildfires across the region are starting earlier, causing more damage and becoming more frequent. In 2024, Alberta reported 705,000 hectares burned, over 1210 wildfires, a 12% increase since 2023, including the Jasper wildfire which cost the province over $1.23 billion in insured damages.
  
• Flooding has been a threat to all Canadians, with the country experiencing five billion-dollar-plus flood events since 2011 (Insurance Bureau of Canada). In 2022, spring flooding in Manitoba generated nearly $200 million in costs due to severe increases in rainfall that caused flooding across multiple regions.
  

Timeline of the challenge:

About AquaAction

AquaAction is dedicated to restoring freshwater health by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Through programs like the AquaHacking Challenge and AquaEntrepreneur, it empowers young leaders to develop cutting-edge solutions to water issues. Learn more.

About CIER

The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) is a national Indigenous created and directed charitable organization that embraces diversity and collaboration for capacity building with Indigenous Nations to strengthen and support sustainable communities and a healthy environment. Learn more.

About Alberta Innovates

Alberta innovates is the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, it is Alberta’s innovation engine. Alberta Innovates fosters and accelerate research and innovation to benefit citizens and drive economic growth. It is currently managing a project portfolio worth $1.2 billion. Alberta Innovates works across sectors to fund, partner and enable entrepreneurship throughout the province. The corporation operates in 11 locations with more than one million sq ft of industrial testing and lab facilities and 600 acres of farmland. Alberta Innovates employs 589 highly skilled scientists, business and technical professionals and has an annual operating budget of $250 million. Learn how Alberta Innovates.