WATERLOO, ONTARIO – January 6, 2021 – Building on a partnership spanning over three decades, BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) and the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute, one of the world’s top water research institutes, today launched a first-of-its-kind innovation research challenge for professors and students.

The Water Innovation Challenge invites new applications of BlackBerry technologies to address water-related challenges, including the cybersecurity of water systems, water emergencies, and Internet of Things (IoT) water management solutions.

In support of a mutual commitment to help ensure the availability and sustainable management of water, the Water Innovation Challenge will catalyze new research and technological innovation that advances the sustainability and water related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Water resilience is critical for economic development, climate change, and healthy ecosystems.

“BlackBerry was founded with an agenda of addressing some of the world’s most critical needs, specifically cybersecurity and connectivity.  We are purposefully delivering innovations and partnerships which leverage our technologies to address these most pressing issues facing communities and industries around the world,” said Neelam Sandhu, Senior Vice President and Chief Elite Customer Success Officer, BlackBerry.  “We are delighted to expand our partnership with the University of Waterloo to help tackle water security.”

“The Water Institute at the University of Waterloo is thrilled to be partnering with BlackBerry to catalyze technological innovation to advance progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Roy Brouwer, Water Institute Executive Director, Professor in the Department of Economics.  “The Water Innovation Challenge will connect our researchers to BlackBerry technologies in new ways to address the most urgent global challenges of today”.

The window to submit applications will be open from January 10 to February 24, 2022.  Chosen applicants will commence their research for the Spring 2022 academic term.

To learn more about the Water Innovation Challenge, click here.

To learn more about corporate social responsibility (CSR) at BlackBerry, visit BlackBerry.com/CSR.