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Defending Canada – Where Ocean Capability Runs Deep
Defending Canada – Where Ocean Capability Runs Deep
When Canadians think about defence, they may think of military interventions, unfought battles, or continental security. But Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) is about something bigger. It is about prosperity, economic development, jobs, and security. And, at its heart, Canada’s national sovereignty and a transformational shift in how we approach it.
As an ocean nation with the world’s longest coastline with thousands of companies and world-leading research institutions, our country’s ocean sector is robust and capable, poised for rapid growth, and at the centre of Canada’s national security future. Canada’s new DIS has a core message centred around building and retaining critical defence capabilities domestically. What is less widely recognized is how many of those capabilities are ocean technologies and the dual-use opportunities that already exist throughout the country.
Marine sensing systems, autonomous vessels, Arctic surveillance infrastructure, shipbuilding capacity, and AI-enabled data platforms are all identified as priority areas for sovereign development. These are not abstract defence categories. They represent the operational backbone of how Canada understands what’s happening in its waters, maintains northern presence, protects supply chains, and responds to emerging geopolitical pressures.
Ocean technology is no longer a niche sector. It is critical to our sovereignty.
Canada’s ability to monitor its three coasts, offshore infrastructure, shipping routes, fisheries, and northern passages depends increasingly on integrated ocean sensing networks and real-time data analytics. Satellites alone cannot provide this visibility. Ongoing maritime awareness requires sensor platforms in the water, autonomous monitoring systems, and AI tools capable of processing massive environmental and operational datasets.
Canada already possesses significant expertise in these areas. Across the 1,000-member network of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster from coast-to-coast-to-coast, companies of all sizes are working with academia, community, investors, and governments to develop advanced monitoring systems, environmental intelligence platforms, and autonomous marine vehicles designed for operations in harsh and remote environments and scaling up in the process. As the modernization of defence accelerates, these capabilities will be essential not only for military readiness but also for coast guard operations, environmental protection, and emergency response.
Sovereignty in the Arctic illustrates this most clearly where more reliable infrastructure, situational awareness, resilient logistics, and technologies capable of operating in extreme climate conditions are required. Ice monitoring systems, autonomous navigation tools, remote sensing platforms, and climate-adapted ocean solutions all play a role in maintaining Canada’s operational presence as does meaningful partnership with Indigenous and northern communities, whose knowledge, presence, and stewardship have shaped these regions for generations.
Autonomous and uncrewed systems further demonstrate the shift underway in defence capability. These technologies extend operational reach, reduce risks to workers, and allow ongoing monitoring across vast marine areas at lower cost. For a country responsible for millions of square kilometres of ocean territory, scalable autonomous systems are now a practical necessity.
Artificial Intelligence not only tie these ocean solutions together but it is an area of particular strength for Canada, representing more than 60 per cent of Canada’s Ocean Superclusters project portfolio today. AI now underpins sensor fusion, predictive maintenance for vessels, navigation safety, threat detection, and logistics optimization. Investments in sovereign AI-enabled marine systems deliver benefits beyond defence, supporting fisheries management, marine safety, climate monitoring, and the future of marine shipping. The same technologies that protect national security also strengthen our economic productivity and contribute to a healthier ocean environment.
The “Build, Partner, Buy” framework in the new strategy acknowledges this reality by emphasizing domestic industrial participation in key technology areas. If implemented effectively, this approach can help ensure Canadian firms are not just subcontractors in global programs but contributors to the core design, development, and support of critical systems. This distinction matters. This is not only about owning equipment, it’s about controlling intellectual property, maintaining skilled workforces, sustaining domestic supply chains, and the ability to adapt systems as required.
The Defence Industrial Strategy signals that Ottawa understands this shift. The next step is ensuring procurement decisions, innovation programs, and industrial partnerships consistently reinforce that domestic capability.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and its network of ocean innovation hubs across the country has a portfolio of over 150 projects valued at more than $600 million including many with dual-use capabilities ready to be deployed to strengthen our security. This, combined with a shared ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy to $220 billion through Ambition 2035 puts Canada’s national ocean cluster at the ready to support government defence strategy and accelerating homegrown solutions and capabilities. As a country defined by its oceans, our sovereignty depends on what Canada builds at home.
CANADA’S OCEAN SUPERCLUSTER SEEKING A NEW MEMBER TO JOIN ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Are you an innovative leader passionate about the growth of the ocean economy in Canada? Are you
interested in supporting solutions that tackle complex challenges including food security, emissions
reductions, the future of shipping, energy security, arctic advancement, and biodiversity loss in
communities across the country? Are you keen to be a leading voice in shaping the future of Canada’s
ocean economy for generations to come? Then now is the time to consider a seat on the Board of
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC).
The OSC with its network of ocean networks across the country is focused on driving Ambition 2035, a 5X
growth objective for the ocean economy for Canada, to grow to $220B by 2035 and build an ocean economy
that is sustainable, digital, and inclusive. This will require a transformation of how we do business in the
ocean and collaboration from coast to coast to coast including Indigenous communities across Canada.
Within Ambition 2035, the OSC is driving strategic conversations in key areas of potential growth including
hydrogen, artificial intelligence (AI) and the blue bioeconomy. Events are happening across the country, and
we encourage Board participation in these important conversations.
The OSC launched in 2018 as one of five Global Innovation Clusters as part of Canada’s innovation strategy
to change the way we invest in innovation and with over 130 projects committed valued at a combined
$500M delivered by 300 projects partners, we are doing just that. Our mandate was renewed in 2023 and
with $125 million endowed to invest in technology commercialization projects that tackle challenges in
scaled ocean energy, sustainable seafood, ocean transportation and ocean climate solutions. In addition,
we were allocated $20M in 2022 to develop a program specific to artificial intelligence (AI) in the ocean and
have been proud to announce 17 projects with AI applications across multiple ocean sectors generating
interest from around the world. This year a further $8M was allotted to OSC for continuing investment in AI.
We are committed to building a strong ecosystem to support the growth of our ocean economy with
investments in building awareness of the opportunity for an inclusive workforce, Canada’s ocean brand and
an increasingly connected national ocean community.
Preferred Candidate Profile and Commitment
Our Board plays a key role in driving our strategy, our investment philosophy, and our drive for
transformational projects that will shape the future of our ocean economy for Canada.
We are looking for a strategic thinker who can help shape our vision as we drive Ambition 2035 forward and
layout a path to organizational sustainability. Ideal candidate will add bench strength in the areas of artificial
intelligence (AI), venture capital, scale-up, or small business/start-ups. Preference will be given to female
identifying candidates, given need for balanced representation and perspectives and anticipated attrition of
current female Board members in coming year. The successful candidate will be appointed at OSC’s Annual
Meeting in September and will serve an initial 2-year term with the potential for renewal for a further term.
Virtual Board meetings are held between 6 and 10 times a year and Board Members are expected to meet in person 1-2 times annually. Overall, we assess the time commitment associated with this position to be 3-4 hours/month. This may increase with Board committee involvement. While this is a volunteer position, OSC
does reimburse travel costs incurred for in-person meetings in accordance with approved policy.
If you are interested in joining our Board, please submit a completed Nomination Form together wit
your CV (together in one PDF file), to nominations@oceansupercluster.ca no later than June 9th. If the
timing or profile for this year’s Board of Directors opportunity does not align for you personally, we will keep
your application on file for future consideration as we have a number of positions turning-over next year as
well and are always seeking ocean leaders for OSC event and engagement opportunities.
Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster! Click above for a holiday message from our CEO, Kendra MacDonald, and check out some of our 2024 highlights below. 🌊
- Regional events in Iqaluit, Victoria, New Brunswick, and Ottawa
- Major conferences across the country focused roundtable discussions, national steering committee work, all member events, and most recently our Indigenous Ocean Business Forum
- Co-delivered an Ocean AI conference with our partner Forum Oceano in Portugal
- Established an MOU with NOAA
- Represented Canada at Hanover Messe as a part of the Global Innovation Cluster program
- More than 30 new, collaborative projects approved focused on AI and AI Exploration, Sustainable Seafood, Marine Transport, Climate, and Innovation Ecosystem Development
- More than $8 million dollars in project announcements from our first-ever International Call for Proposals with Innovate UK
- Conducted the first-ever national research around the perceptions and pathways for youth in ocean careers in partnership with Sherry Scully
- Launched our On the Job campaign with Shawn Kanungo, now on track to reach more than three-million youth this year alone
- Began a pilot training program in Ocean AI and Technology Foundations for ocean industry professionals
- Established two national steering committees for:
- The development of a strategy for the Blue Bioeconomy in Canada
- A strategic approach for Ocean AI in Canada
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $6.3M C-MASS Project – A Near-Real-Time Monitoring Solution for the Ocean’s Near Shore Zone
NEW OCEAN SUPERCLUSTER OPPORTUNITY – Ocean Supercluster Resilience (OSCR) Call for Proposals
A very happy new year from the OSC team!
Join us on January 25, 2021 for an information session on our newest program: Ocean Supercluster Resilience (OSCR) Call for Proposals – launching next week!
This information session is open to the public – all are welcome.
English Webinar: Jan 25th, 1:00pm AST: Register here: Ocean Supercluster Resilience (OSCR) Call for Proposals: English Webinar Tickets, Mon, 25 Jan 2021 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
French Webinar: Jan 25th, 2:30pm AST: Register here: Ocean Supercluster Resilience (OSCR) Call for Proposals: French Webinar Tickets, Mon, 25 Jan 2021 at 2:30 PM | Eventbrite
For questions regarding the webinar, please email us at contact@oceansupercluster.ca