May 21, 2026
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) has issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive Ocean Industry Funding Landscape Research Study, aiming to better understand and address the persistent access‑to‑capital challenges facing Canada’s ocean economy.
The RFP notes that while global ocean industries continue to grow rapidly, “access to capital is the single-biggest challenge facing the growth of Canada’s ocean sector” and that the issue varies significantly by sub‑sector, company size, region, and type of capital. The study will identify critical gaps from the perspective of both funders and ocean companies, as well as produce a comprehensive, evidence-based map of the funding ecosystem as it exists today, and outline learnings for Canada based on leading practices in capital deployment in other economies.
Scope of the Study
The study will be conducted in a phased approach, with Phase 1 of the project focused on three priority sub‑sectors:
- Aquaculture
- Marine decarbonization
- Marine domain awareness (including sensors, platforms, UAVs, and telemetry‑based data products)
Phase 1 will also include examine challenges by Stage (pre-seed/seed, to commercialization stage, to scale-up stage), funder type (including catalytic funds traditional funders, angel investors, VCs, private equity, and government), and capital stack (non-dilutive, different forms of equity, debt, and structured finance).
Key deliverables include:
- A Critical Market Gaps Analysis
- A Current State of Funding in the Canadian ocean sector
- Optional global comparisons and leading practices
- A final report and presentation suitable for broad stakeholder engagement
The project is expected to run from June to August 2026, with a maximum budget of $150,000 CAD.
Proposal Requirements
Applicants must outline their methodology, team experience, budget breakdown, and any areas where OSC support may be required (e.g., introductions to companies). The RFP emphasizes that respondents should demonstrate strong connectivity to relevant funder groups and experience in ocean-sector or capital‑market analysis.
Submission Deadline & Contact
Proposals are due Friday, June 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ADT.
Submissions and questions should be directed to:
Jakub Skrzypczyk
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Jakub.Skrzypczyk@oceansupercluster.ca
