For Immediate Release
April 15, 2025
(Halifax, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced the new, $2.5 million ocean innovation project: Tech Companion AI Search and 3D Visualization Project. This new, collaborative OSC project will help position Canada as a leader in ocean technology, increasing global competitiveness in ocean AI and stimulating economic growth.
The project is led by Modest Tree, a Nova Scotia company, in partnership with Babcock Canada (Babcock) who has operations in Halifax and is headquartered in Ottawa, ON. With a total project value of $2.5 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing approximately $1 million with the balance coming from project partners.
Modest Tree’s Tech Companion software integrates data-driven maintenance manuals and workcards with immersive 3D models and training to provide an interactive platform to plan, execute, and track inspection and maintenance work. This project will enable Modest Tree to better tailor Tech Companion features to support ocean industry assets by working with Babcock to supply the necessary data, end-user insights, and operational testing.
Through this project advancements will be made in:
Heatmaps for Maintenance Optimization:
3D Heatmap visualizations of work data enabling a clear view of current and planned work with the ability to quickly filter and review operations over time as well as predict future outcomes.
Data Visualization & Interaction:
Enhanced 3D visualization of ocean industry equipment aligned with work data, enabling users to visually engage and analyze that information. Interactive navigation, zoom, highlights, and clickable components provide intuitive access to technical details, improving comprehension and decision-making.
Marine-Optimized AI Search and Data Connectivity:
AI-powered search aligns queries with documentation, workcards, 3D Models, and training, delivering precise technical responses and easy access to information that otherwise would be challenging to search and reference.
By integrating advanced AI technologies into maritime maintenance, the project will create and maintain more than 30 direct jobs in technology development, engineering, and related fields. Additionally, the project will enhance Canada’s global competitiveness in the maritime sector and stimulate economic growth in the ocean economy by showcasing cutting-edge technologies developed by Canadian companies.
Through Ambition 2035 and together with Canada’s ocean community, we are bold in our ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy 5X to $220 billion by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this ambition. Read more about recommendations to help achieve this transformational growth opportunity outlined in Charting the Course to 5X Growth in Canada’s Ocean Economy.
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Media Contacts
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 120 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.
About Babcock Canada
Operating in Canada since 2008, Babcock Canada (Babcock) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group, a global defence, aerospace, and security company. For over 16 years, Babcock has been proud to play a critical role in supporting Canada’s safety and security, delivering engineering and critical support services to defence and civil customers.
Drawing on decades of global experience, Babcock delivers fully integrated solutions tailored specifically for Canada and its unique environment across the land, marine, and aviation sectors.
In the marine industry, Babcock is proud to be a trusted partner of the Royal Canadian Navy and an undisputed leader in Canada’s submarine sustainment enterprise, leading the in-service support of the Victoria Class submarines throughout the course of the Victoria In-Service Support Contract.
Babcock’s work has generated over $3 billion in GDP impact on the Canadian economy and has maintained a total of 2,472 jobs annually, 55% of which are highly skilled. Babcock is committed to establishing partnerships with local universities, colleges, Indigenous communities, and small and medium-sized businesses to support skills development, training, and innovation.
At Babcock, we are proud to be a trusted partner of the Canadian Armed Forces and Armed Forces of allied nations around the world. Babcock’s mission is guided by the needs of our customers, we ensure their services and assets are equipped to fulfill their customers’ missions wherever, whenever, and however needed.
Quotes
“Advanced AI technologies are at the forefront of innovation in the ocean sector in Canada and globally. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $2.5M Tech Companion Project, which will tailor existing AI technologies to the ocean sector, ensuring the continued development of ocean AI, creating ocean industry jobs, and increasing Canada’s global competitiveness all while prioritizing environmental stewardship.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“We are pleased to announce this Ocean Supercluster project and to collaborate with Babcock Canada to advance how technical data is accessed and understood in the ocean industry by leveraging AI and immersive 3D technology. By integrating interactive visualization, intelligent search, and heatmap visualizations, we’re enabling faster decision-making, improved efficiency, and greater operational confidence that not only impacts the project partners but the ocean economy in Canada.” – Emily Smits, CEO Modest Tree
“Babcock Canada is delighted to continue working with Modest Tree alongside the Ocean Supercluster. This partnership and investment demonstrate how the Industrial and Technological Benefits policy can enable small-medium technology enterprises to continue growing capability and capacity in key areas.” – Tony March, CEO, Babcock Canada