Welcome to the
Brilliant Blue
Challenge
Welcome to the
Brilliant Blue
Challenge
Get ready to make waves in ocean innovation!
The Brilliant Blue Challenge is your chance to team up, get creative, and tackle real-world ocean challenges. Whether you’re exploring marine renewable energy, designing autonomous systems, or improving ocean health, this is where your ideas can shape a sustainable future.
Join in!2025 Brilliant Blue Canada Winners
Thank you to all the teams who participated in the first National Brilliant Blue Competition in-person in Halifax Nova Scotia, and virtually as well as the spectators. There were many great projects, but only 4 can advance to the international competition in October. Without further adieu, here are our winners:
- Healthy Marine Life Theme Winner: JEDI T
- Marine Autonomous Systems Theme Winner: Grammar Gryphons
- Marine Renewable Energy Theme Winner: Hydro Girls
- Brilliant Blue Award Winner: Zepaquweveex Wind
Challenge Categories
Marine Renewable Energy
Teams will conceptualize a way to generate power that is sustainable and environmentally friendly
Marine Autonomous Systems
Teams will propose solutions and prototype a system that helps perform tasks or explore the depths of the oceans
Healthy Marine Life
Teams will develop a solution that improves the quality of ocean ecosystems
FAQ’s
Have questions? We've got answers! Whether you're curious about the Brilliant Blue Initiative, our competitions, sustainability efforts, or how to get involved, this FAQ section is here to help. Explore the most commonly asked questions and find everything you need to know about being part of the Brilliant Blue community. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to help!
Brilliant Blue is a global competition, conceptualized by Brilliant Labs, that challenges students ages 12-18 to develop innovative solutions to ocean challenges in one of three categories: Marine Renewable Energy, Autonomous Marine Systems, and Healthy Marine Life.
The top teams will receive prizes, mentorship, and the opportunity to present their solutions to a panel of experts. Brilliant Blue is an exciting opportunity for students to make a real difference in the ocean and to learn about the blue economy. For more details, please refer to the competition guide that is shared with each team.
Registration Deadline: March 15th 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline: April 10th 2026
Submission of logbooks, business plans, and any software solutions: April 10th 2026
Competition Date: April 16th-18th 2026
Yes, teams can be formed of 2 to 5 middle and high school students of any school as long as they fall under the age group of 12 to 18 years, have two adults as their advisors, and complete the registration.
There is no limit to how innovative a project could be. The purpose of the competition is to challenge students to come up with realistic solutions to real-world problems that are currently facing our ocean.
As part of Brilliant Blue’s core value of inspiring high school students to solve real-world problems, Brilliant Labs is offering all teams the chance to connect with mentors who are industry experts in one or more of the competition categories. These mentors will offer advice, counsel, and technical feedback whenever needed. Please see the students’ mentorship guide for more details.
For everyone’s safety, advisors are supposed to be adults from your surroundings (teachers or parents). In the case that the advisor you have selected does not fall under any of the above categories, at least one parent or a guardian of a team member should consent to this by writing to blue@brilliantlabs.ca.
On the competition day, teams will be doing 2 types of presentations:
- Technical presentation of the project, including a live demonstration of the prototypes.
- The pitch of the business plan that they have developed.
Judges will be evaluating you on 6 main aspects:
- Presentation Skills
- Technical Skills
- Working Prototype
- Business Plan
- Adherence to the Challenge Guidelines
- Adherence to Brilliant Blue’s objectives
For more details, please refer to the competition guidelines.
All questions and inquiries can be forwarded to blue@brilliantlabs.ca.
Canada’s Role in the Brilliant Blue Challenge
Canada is a key player in the global blue economy, contributing over $31.65 billion to its GDP and supporting nearly 300,000 jobs. The Brilliant Blue Challenge taps into this growing sector by engaging youth in STEM education and innovation focused on marine conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources. This initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, encouraging young leaders to develop solutions that support ocean health and sustainable economic growth.
Canada’s Role in the Brilliant Blue Challenge
Canada is a key player in the global blue economy, contributing over $31.65 billion to its GDP and supporting nearly 300,000 jobs. The Brilliant Blue Challenge taps into this growing sector by engaging youth in STEM education and innovation focused on marine conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources. This initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, encouraging young leaders to develop solutions that support ocean health and sustainable economic growth.
Sustainable Blue:
Funded By
Endorsed By
Presented By
TIMELINE
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Watch the webinars.
Registration Deadline
Deadline for students to register their teams.
Teams Submissions
Deadline for teams to submit their documents
National Competition
National Competition
The BIG DAY!
