Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership

The OEB is launching a second Innovation Sandbox Challenge to empower Indigenous innovation and support Indigenous leadership in the energy transition by identifying challenges, exploring emerging opportunities, enhancing energy services and building capacity. The Challenge will provide up to $1.275 million in funding supported by the Government of Canada, along with regulatory guidance through the Innovation Sandbox to selected projects.

The Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership will support projects that test scalable approaches to energy innovation within Indigenous communities. Through this Challenge, the OEB will seek submissions for projects with a two-year timeline that are either led by, developed in partnership with, or meaningfully engage with Indigenous communities or nations.

Background

This Challenge is responsive to Ontario’s Clean Energy Opportunity, a report of the Electrification and Energy Transition Panel delivered to the Ontario government. The report emphasized the importance of meaningful Indigenous participation in the clean energy economy, calling for enhanced capacity building through funding and access to learning resources.

In March 2023, the OEB launched its first Innovation Sandbox Challenge, offering $1.5 million and regulatory support to help advance innovation in Ontario’s energy sector. That challenge is focused on two themes: how to move pilots to broader implementation and innovative strategies to enhance consumers’ understanding of their role in the energy transition.

The OEB is launching a second Innovation Sandbox Challenge to empower Indigenous innovation and support Indigenous leadership in the energy transition by identifying challenges, exploring emerging opportunities, enhancing energy services and building capacity. The Challenge will provide up to $1.275 million in funding supported by the Government of Canada, along with regulatory guidance through the Innovation Sandbox to selected projects.

The Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership will support projects that test scalable approaches to energy innovation within Indigenous communities. Through this Challenge, the OEB will seek submissions for projects with a two-year timeline that are either led by, developed in partnership with, or meaningfully engage with Indigenous communities or nations.

Background

This Challenge is responsive to Ontario’s Clean Energy Opportunity, a report of the Electrification and Energy Transition Panel delivered to the Ontario government. The report emphasized the importance of meaningful Indigenous participation in the clean energy economy, calling for enhanced capacity building through funding and access to learning resources.

In March 2023, the OEB launched its first Innovation Sandbox Challenge, offering $1.5 million and regulatory support to help advance innovation in Ontario’s energy sector. That challenge is focused on two themes: how to move pilots to broader implementation and innovative strategies to enhance consumers’ understanding of their role in the energy transition.

  • OEB supports five energy projects that empower Indigenous innovation and leadership

    The OEB has selected five projects to receive just over $1.2 million as part of its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership.

    The OEB has selected five projects to receive just over $1.2 million as part of its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership.

  • Webinar materials available

    The OEB has posted its presentation from its Aug. 28, 2025, webinar, where it provided an overview of the Innovation Sandbox and walked potential proponents through the Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership Proponent Guideline.

    The OEB has posted its presentation from its Aug. 28, 2025, webinar, where it provided an overview of the Innovation Sandbox and walked potential proponents through the Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership Proponent Guideline.

  • Challenge submission materials available

    The OEB has posted materials for those interested in applying to its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership. The window for submissions runs from Sept. 2, 2025, to Oct .17, 2025.

    The OEB has posted materials for those interested in applying to its Innovation Sandbox Challenge: Empowering Indigenous Innovation and Leadership. The window for submissions runs from Sept. 2, 2025, to Oct .17, 2025.

  • Invitation to attend webinar

    The OEB will hold a webinar on Aug. 28, 2025, to provide more information about its second Sandbox Challenge, focused on empowering Indigenous innovation and leadership in the energy sector. Topics to be discussed include the OEB Innovation Sandbox initiative, the Challenge and related documents, such as eligibility criteria, the application process and timelines, in anticipation of accepting proposals this fall. The Challenge will provide up to $1.275 million in funding and regulatory support to selected projects.

    For more information, including instructions to confirm attendance at the August 28 webinar, read the OEB's letter.

    The OEB will hold a webinar on Aug. 28, 2025, to provide more information about its second Sandbox Challenge, focused on empowering Indigenous innovation and leadership in the energy sector. Topics to be discussed include the OEB Innovation Sandbox initiative, the Challenge and related documents, such as eligibility criteria, the application process and timelines, in anticipation of accepting proposals this fall. The Challenge will provide up to $1.275 million in funding and regulatory support to selected projects.

    For more information, including instructions to confirm attendance at the August 28 webinar, read the OEB's letter.

  • OEB Launches Second Innovation Sandbox Challenge

    The OEB is launching a second Innovation Sandbox Challenge to empower Indigenous innovation and support Indigenous leadership in the energy transition by identifying challenges, exploring emerging opportunities, enhancing energy services and building capacity.

    The OEB is launching a second Innovation Sandbox Challenge to empower Indigenous innovation and support Indigenous leadership in the energy transition by identifying challenges, exploring emerging opportunities, enhancing energy services and building capacity.

Page last updated: 15 Apr 2026, 10:12 AM