Apply for Sustainable Northern Operations: Water and Waste Challenge Grant (Canada)

Deadline: 20-Oct-2026

The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces are seeking innovative technologies to support sustainable and independent water and waste management for relocatable camps operating in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. The Sustainable Northern Operations: Water and Waste Challenge supports the development of integrated systems that can help remote camps operate independently in harsh northern conditions while reducing logistical requirements and environmental impacts.

About the Sustainable Northern Operations: Water and Waste Challenge

The Sustainable Northern Operations: Water and Waste Challenge is part of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Competitive Projects.

The challenge supports the Canadian Armed Forces’ strategic expansion in Canada’s North by advancing technologies for integrated water and waste management in remote, relocatable camps. The programme seeks proven, deployable, Canadian-made, Arctic-ready solutions that can provide reliable water and waste management while reducing the need for regular resupply. What Is the Challenge Looking For? The challenge is seeking integrated technologies capable of supporting water and waste management for relocatable northern camps.

Proposed solutions must integrate:

- Water purification. - Wastewater treatment. - Solid-waste reduction. The systems should be designed to enable camps to operate more independently and sustainably in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. Camp Capacity Requirement Proposed technologies must be capable of supporting camps with up to 50 personnel. Solutions should be designed around the operational requirements of remote and relocatable camps and provide continuous water and waste management capabilities. Arctic and Sub-Arctic Operating Conditions Solutions must be suitable for harsh northern environments.

The systems must:

- Function continuously in extreme cold. - Operate at temperatures down to -40°C. - Be suitable for Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions. - Be maintainable and repairable in remote northern locations. The ability to operate reliably in severe environmental conditions is an essential requirement of the challenge. Modular and Transportable Designs Solutions must use modular designs that can be transported to remote locations.

The systems must be transportable by:

- Air. - Ship. This requirement reflects the logistical challenges associated with establishing and maintaining relocatable camps in northern environments. Reduction in Resupply Requirements A key objective of the challenge is to reduce the logistical burden associated with operating remote camps. Proposed solutions must demonstrate at least a 75% reduction in resupply volume and frequency compared with baseline requirements. This reduction is intended to help decrease the transportation and logistical demands associated with northern camp operations. Environmental and Health Requirements Proposed systems must meet applicable Canadian environmental and health regulations. Applicants should ensure that their technologies can operate in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements while providing reliable water purification, wastewater treatment, and solid-waste management. Maintainability and Repairability Because the systems will operate in remote northern environments, maintainability and repairability are essential. Solutions should be designed so that they can be maintained and repaired under challenging Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions. This capability is important for ensuring continued operation when access to external technical support and replacement equipment may be limited. How Much Funding Is Available? The challenge provides funding based on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed solution. Up to $6.75 million is available for phased development.

Funding is structured as follows:

- Early-stage development: Up to $250,000 for TRL 1–3 projects over six months.

- Design phase: Up to $1.5 million for TRL 4–5 projects over 12 months.

- Build and validation: Up to $5 million for TRL 6–9 projects.

A solution can progress through the different stages as it advances in technological readiness. Early-Stage Development – TRL 1–3 Solutions at TRL 1–3 can receive up to $250,000 for early-stage development. The funding period for this stage is up to six months. This stage supports the development of early-stage technologies that have the potential to address the challenge requirements. Design Phase – TRL 4–5 Solutions at TRL 4–5 can receive up to $1.5 million for the design phase. Projects at this stage can receive funding for up to 12 months. The design phase supports the further development of technologies toward deployable solutions for northern operations. Build and Validation – TRL 6–9 Solutions at TRL 6–9 can receive up to $5 million for build and validation. This stage supports more advanced technologies as they progress toward operational deployment and validation in the required environments. Who Can Apply? The challenge is open to a broad range of applicants.

Eligible applicants include:

- Individuals. - Academic institutions and researchers. - Not-for-profit organisations. - Municipal governments. - Provincial and territorial organisations. - Private-sector organisations. This broad eligibility allows technology developers, researchers, organisations, and other innovators to propose solutions. Who Cannot Apply? Federal and provincial Crown corporations are excluded from the call. Other eligible organisations should ensure that they meet the applicable requirements before submitting a proposed solution. Canadian-Made and Arctic-Ready Technologies The challenge is seeking Canadian-made, Arctic-ready water and waste management technologies. Solutions should be designed for practical deployment in northern environments and address the operational realities of remote and relocatable camps. The focus is on technologies that can provide sustainable and independe