Thursday, March 19, 2026
Water technology non-profit AquaAction announced March 18 applications are now open for AquaEntrepreneur, a program aimed at commercializing new water secotr technologies in Quebec.
AquaAction president Soula Chronopoulos made the announcement at the Salon des technologies environnementales du Québec 2026 in Quebec City.
“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,” Chronopoulos said.
AquaEntrepreneur is backed by $1.5 million in funding over three years from the Quebec ministry of economy, innovation and energy, an AquaAction release said.
The program seeks 15 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,” the release said.
Chronopoulos also announced two partnerships to aid those participating in the program:
- 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.
- 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.
“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,” AquaAction founding chair François de Gaspé Beaubien said.
In addition to ministry support, the release said, 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 pilot opportunities through partnerships with IVÉO, Réseau Environnement, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, CTEAU and Oxia Initiative.
