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Innovation Without Borders: AquaAction Expands AquaHacking Program Across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence

Editorial DeskBy No Comments2 Mins Read
Leading AquaAction partners gather for the launch at the Urban Tech Xchange, August 26th. From left to right: Matthew Quigley, Foreign Commercial Service Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce; Joe Carr, Freshwater Tech Business Consultant, Small Business Development Center (SBDC); Harb Gill, Member of Parliament, Windsor West, House of Commons of Canada; Jon Altenberg, President & CEO, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative; Ed Kim, Professor of Smart Manufacturing Technology, College of Innovation & Technology, University of Michigan–Flint, General Partner, Side Door Ventures – MI & Vortex Growth Capital; Elliott Smith, Founder, Motmot; Christine Spitzley, Principal, OMH Advisors; Director, Michigan Section AWWA; Brittany VanderBeek, Director of Business Development, AquaAction; Soula Chronopoulos, President, AquaAction; Ryan Iacovacci, Founder, Myconaut; Kevin Mull, Co-founder, Urban Tech Xchange, Senior Director, Office of Urban Strategy and Innovation, Bedrock. (CNW Group/AquaAction)

AquaAction has announced the binational expansion of its flagship AquaHacking Program for 2026, aiming to attract 1,000 participants across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region. The initiative marks a significant milestone in AquaAction’s mission to build a water-secure future through cross-border collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Driving Binational Collaboration for Water Innovation

Unveiled at Detroit’s new Urban Tech Xchange, where AquaAction will soon open its U.S. headquarters, the program launch highlighted strategic co-hosts: the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI). Together, these partnerships strengthen AquaAction’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation in tackling pressing water challenges.

Empowering the Next Generation of Water-Tech Leaders

Now in its 10th year and 16th edition, the AquaHacking Program offers a 10-month journey of mentorship, technical guidance, seed funding, and entrepreneurial support. Since 2016, the initiative has helped build over 100 water tech companies, generated $200M+ in annual revenues, created 400+ green jobs, and saved 95B litres of water.

Key Innovation Themes for 2026:

  • Bridging the water access gap in underserved communities
  • Drought-resistant agriculture and water-smart farming
  • Energy-efficient cooling for data centers
  • Resilient municipal water infrastructure
  • Circular water economy innovations
  • Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture utilization

Addressing Urgent Regional Challenges

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence basin, home to 110 million people and 21% of the world’s surface freshwater, faces mounting pressures including PFAS contamination, nutrient runoff, invasive species, and extreme weather disruptions. AquaAction’s expanded program seeks to unite innovators to design solutions with scalable impact for both communities and industries.

Call for Partners and Participants

AquaAction is actively seeking post-secondary recruitment hubs and major sponsors to power the 2026 binational program. By investing in this initiative, partners can help build a resilient freshwater economy while empowering innovators to transform ideas into sustainable solutions.

Learn more about the program and partnership opportunities here: AquaHacking Binational 2026.

About AquaAction

AquaAction is a U.S. and Canada–registered charity dedicated to building a water-secure future through innovation, education, and collaboration. Working across sectors, AquaAction empowers entrepreneurs, policymakers, and communities to launch and scale solutions that address urgent water challenges, ensuring a thriving freshwater economy for generations to come.

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