Projects and Programs

Projects and Programs

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster co-invests with industry to accelerate and commercialize innovative ocean solutions in the areas of Scaled Ocean Energy, Sustainable Seafood, Future of Transport, Ocean Climate, Talent and Network. These projects aim to introduce Canadian solutions to global markets while fostering the growth of new ocean-based companies and a diverse workforce. This is essential to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, supporting the continued growth of Canada’s ocean economy and its leadership in this sector.

There are two distinct OSC Projects and Programs streams including Technology Leadership Projects program and Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity program.

Have a project idea? Want to learn more about the OSC funding process? Questions about getting involved?

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Technology Leadership Project Program

The OSC’s Technology Leadership Project program is designed to help accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative, made-in-Canada ocean solutions. Key areas of focus in this program include  Scaled Ocean Energy, Sustainable Seafood, Future of Transport, Ocean Climate and other areas of growth. All Technology Leadership Projects make a 12.75 per cent contribution to innovation ecosystem building activity. Within the Technology Leadership Project program, there are two ways to submit project proposals: Core Technology Leadership Program and Call Programs.

Core Technology Leadership Program

Core Technology Leadership Program requirements and process, at a glance:

Any consortium can submit a prequalification.

  • Submission Timing: Continuous Intake
  • Match – Up to 40% of eligible project costs
  • Project Value – Minimum $1,000,000
  • Project Duration – Must end be October 2027

Steps in project assessment/approval process:

  • Prequalification
  • Prequalification assessment
  • Proposal phase
  • Proposal submission
  • Proposal assessment
  • Proposal ratification

Interested in submitting your idea for pre-qualification to the Core Technology Leadership program? Here are some key documents to help get you started:

Guidelines
Project Preliminary Qualification 2025
Project Preliminary Qualification Budget 2025
Cost Eligibility Guidelines

Technology Leadership Call Program

Technology Leadership Call Program requirements and process, at a glance:

Thematic call gets launched with program guidelines:

  • Match – 40% of eligible project costs
  • Project Value – May have a min or max
  • Project Duration – Call specific
  • Submission Timing – Call specific

Steps in proposal process:

  • 1. Expression of Interest
  • 2. EOI assessment
  • 3. Proposal phase
  • 4. Proposal submission
  • 5. Proposal assessment

Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program

Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity program are non-commercial initiatives designed to help build a robust innovation ecosystem with programs to support more ocean companies as they start and grow, support skills development and sector workforce development, build and expand ocean networks and partnerships, and increase visibility of Canada’s global ocean brand. Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity program only accept proposals under a continuous intake, Core program. If your project is focused on the development of a technology, please refer to the Technology Leadership project program requirements.

Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program requirements and process, at a glance:

Any consortium can submit a prequalification.

  • Match – Up to 75% of eligible project costs
  • Project Value – Projects range from thousands to millions
  • Project Duration – Must end by October 2027
  • Submission Timing – Continuous Intake

Steps in project assessment/approval process:

  • Prequalification
  • Prequalification assessment
  • Proposal phase
  • Proposal submission
  • Proposal assessment

Interested in submitting your idea for the Innovation Ecosystem Project and Proposal program? Here are some key documents to help get you started:

For pre-qualification, please prepare an executive summary of your idea for feedback.

Innovation Ecosystem Project Proposal Form
Cost Eligibility Guidelines

How are funding decisions made for the Core project streams?

Across all programs, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster engages independent experts to assess projects and make recommendations for approval. The OSC employs a robust Conflict of Interest policy in the assessment of projects at each phase.

With a project portfolio of approximately 90 collaborative ocean projects that contribute to the health and productivity of our ocean, projects range in value from under a million dollars to tens of millions of dollars, where Canada’s Ocean Supercluster co-invests with industry to bring the project to fruition. Projects often involve a range of partners from SMEs, larger more mature companies, academia, regional innovation hubs, Indigenous partners, and others.