Ocean Supercluster
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Accelerates ocean technology development and commercialization to strengthen Canada's ocean economy.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an Ocean Supercluster (OSC) member (free associate membership available)
- Project must operate in the ocean technology sector (energy transition, sustainable seafood, future transport, or ocean climate solutions)
- Multi-partner consortium required — solo applications are ineligible
- Industry partners must provide at least 60% co-investment for Technology Leadership projects
- Company must be based in or have operations in Atlantic Canada or British Columbia
- All projects must conclude by October 2027
- Project demonstrates a clear commercialization pathway with scalable ocean economy impact
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $5 million
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 40% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Call-specific — no open intake currently. Monitor oceansupercluster.ca for active programs.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipMembership is the prerequisite that most applicants overlook -- you must join the OSC (free associate membership available) before submitting any project. Start by attending OSC events and webinars to understand current strategic priorities and build relationships with the team. The quarterly review cycle means timing matters: submit well before the quarterly cut-off, not at the last minute. Projects aligned with the Ambition 2035 priorities (especially Ocean AI, marine carbon removal, and Blue Bioeconomy) are currently favored. Multi-partner consortia involving SMEs alongside larger companies and academic institutions score highest. Despite the Atlantic Canada origin, the OSC now funds pan-Canadian projects -- BC and Quebec ocean companies should not self-exclude.
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Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Not an OSC member at time of submission
- Project lacks clear commercialization pathway or market demand
- Insufficient industry co-investment commitment (need minimum 60%)
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Success Profile
Winning applicants are typically ocean technology SMEs or mid-size companies that can form multi-partner consortia with at least one other company, often including an academic or research institution. They have a clear commercialization pathway for a made-in-Canada ocean solution, can commit to covering at least 60% of project costs through industry co-investment, and align with OSC's strategic pillars (energy transition, sustainable seafood, future transport, or ocean climate solutions). Companies with existing ocean sector revenue, a specific product or technology ready for scaling, and connections within the OSC membership network are strongest. Indigenous partnerships and workforce diversity commitments strengthen applications.
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Evaluation Criteria
Pre-qualification assesses alignment with OSC strategic pillars (energy transition, sustainable seafood, future transport, ocean climate solutions), commercialization potential, and member eligibility. Full proposals scored on innovation merit, multi-partner collaboration strength, industry co-investment commitment (minimum 60% for Technology Leadership), made-in-Canada IP creation, scalable ocean economy impact, and alignment with Ambition 2035 priorities. Thematic calls add specific evaluation criteria per call.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 10
Eligible Expenses 13
- Personnel salaries and benefits for employees working directly on the project (capped at $300,000/year per individual; excess claimed as unfunded eligible costs)
- Employer-portion CPP, EI premiums, and provincial WCB pro-rated to project hours
- Subcontractor costs for essential work not available from project partners at market rates
- Equipment rental, operation, and maintenance related to project activities
- Materials and supplies consumed during project activities
- Facility rental for project use
- Service usage fees including research access and software licenses
- Conference facility rental and telecommunications
- Travel expenses including meals and lodging per OSC travel policy
- Communication and marketing costs tied to project outcomes
- Market studies, insurance, and shipping
- Capital expenditures and equipment (OSC approval required if exceeding $1M)
- Exceptional costs outside Canada with prior OSC written approval
Ineligible Expenses 9
- Overhead and routine administration costs including costs of administering project activities
- Honoraria, gifts, donations, entertainment expenses, and alcoholic beverages
- Parking tickets, speeding violations, or other infractions
- Dues and memberships other than regular trade and professional associations
- Premiums for life insurance where proceeds accrue to the recipient
- Discretionary severance and separation packages
- Lobbying costs
- Land acquisition
- Costs incurred before project approval date
Intake Periods
Technology Leadership: continuous intake with quarterly review cycles. Innovation Ecosystem: ongoing submissions. Thematic calls: periodic with specific deadlines (e.g., Ocean AI 2025 had May 16, 2025 EOI deadline). Monitor oceansupercluster.ca for active programs.
Deadline Notes
Technology Leadership Projects accept submissions on continuous intake with quarterly review cycles. Innovation Ecosystem Projects also accept ongoing submissions. Additionally, the OSC launches periodic thematic calls for proposals with specific deadlines (e.g., Ocean AI 2025 Call had a May 16, 2025 EOI deadline). All projects must conclude by October 2027. The program was renewed through Budget 2022 with $750M additional across all five clusters through approximately 2028.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Non-members of the Ocean Supercluster
- Organizations outside Canada with no Canadian partner
- Solo applicants without multi-partner collaboration
- Organizations unable to provide minimum 60% industry co-investment (Technology Leadership)
- Organizations whose projects cannot conclude by October 2027
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How Ocean Supercluster Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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