Canada looking for ocean innovators

Innovative projects will commercialize Canadian-made ocean solutions

By SeaWestNews

Canada is looking for innovators to grow the ocean economy in a way that has never been done before.

Launching its second Canada-wide Call for Proposals for its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP), Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) is offering up hundreds of thousands of dollars to innovators looking to develop new technologies for projects that can be completed in less than two years.

“We had an incredible response to our first Call for Proposals under the accelerated program in May that saw an influx of new OSC members and some very exciting new projects that we look forward to announcing in the fall,” said OSC CEO Kendra MacDonald.

 “With continued uncertainties, due to the global pandemic, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is driving new opportunities for accelerated ocean projects, while also seeing continued momentum in our core programming.”

 MacDonald said these OSC projects will commercialize Canadian-made ocean solutions that have applications across ocean sectors and with a market opportunity that is global, generating significant economic benefits including growing ocean companies and retaining and creating more jobs in Canada.

This includes projects in fisheries, aquaculture, offshore resources, bioresources, transportation, marine renewables, defence, and ocean technologies who are committed to leveraging collective strengths and working together.

The initiative, launched by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, is looking for innovators or companies – including those from the aquaculture sector – that have been in business for under five years and have 15 or fewer employees.

The Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program July 2020 Call for Proposals is deadline-driven and competitive with a focus on three Project Themes including: remote operations; digital/automated technologies; and environmental technologies.

The application process is now open and begins with Expressions of Interest which must be submitted by August 11, 2020. For complete details, go here.

(Image shows OSC CEO Kendra MacDonald)

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