Updated August 2026 · Verified against Canada's Ocean Supercluster (OSC) guidelines
Reimbursement Est. 2018
Grant Federal Active

Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program

Canada's Ocean Supercluster (OSC)
Maximum Funding
Up to 75% of eligible project costs; project values range from...
Continuous intake — all projects must conclude by October 2027
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
75%
Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program provides Up to 75% of eligible project costs; project values range from thousands to millions of dollars. Provides up to 75% co-investment for non-commercial, consortium-led projects that strengthen Canada's ocean sector — including workforce development, SME capacity building, partnership networks, and Canada's global ocean brand. The program covers up to 75% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility check

Can you win this grant?

Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.

Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.

Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Provides up to 75% co-investment for non-commercial, consortium-led projects that strengthen Canada's ocean sector — including workforce development, SME capacity building, partnership networks, and Canada's global ocean brand. Distinct from the Technology Leadership program, this stream funds ecosystem-building rather than product commercialization.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be legally incorporated in Canada (for-profit, not-for-profit, and public institutions all eligible)
  • Project must be non-commercial in nature — ecosystem building, skills training, network development, or brand visibility (NOT product R&D or commercialization)
  • Must join Ocean Supercluster membership before applying (Associate or Industry membership)
  • Must submit as a consortium — minimum two OSC members
  • At least one SME must be part of the consortium
  • Project must demonstrate benefits to the Canadian ocean economy
  • All projects must conclude by October 2027
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Fisheries Environmental Clean Technology Manufacturing Technology
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to 75% of eligible project costs; project values range from thousands to millions of dollars
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Continuous intake — all projects must conclude by October 2027

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Oct 31, 2027
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem ...

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
Get Premium — $39/mo or just this Playbook — $19 one-time

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

The non-commercial requirement is strictly interpreted — projects with any product development or IP commercialization component should use the Technology Leadership stream.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Project includes any commercial product development or IP creation — use Technology Leadership stream instead
+5 more pitfalls
Premium See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.

Success Profile

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
6 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Premium covers all 850+ for $39/mo.
Get Premium — $39/mo Every program · Application workspace · 30-day money-back
or just this Playbook — $19 one-time

Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 6 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Join OSC Membership Complete an Expression of Interest on the OSC website to become an Associate Member (no investment required) or an Industry Member. All project participants must be OSC members before applying.

Required Documents 6

✓ OSC Prequalification template (available on OSC website in English and French)
✓ Consortium agreement identifying all project members

Eligible Expenses 10

Ineligible Expenses 6

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Applying for Ocean Supercluster? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 3 partners

Compatible Programs

Ocean Supercluster Technology Leadership Program ESDC Workforce Development Agreements ACOA / PacifiCan / FedDev
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem ... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosy... Up to 75% of eligible project costs Moderate Reimbursement Continuous intake — all...
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
Innovative Solutions Canada up to $150,000 Hard Milestone-Based Challenge-specific — new...
Ocean Supercluster Up to $5 million Hard Reimbursement Call-specific — no open...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Grant

ISC Challenge Stream (Innovative Solutions Canada)

Phase 1: up to $150,000 (some up to $300,000); Phase 2: up... · Federal
 Program

IVADO Scientist in Action — AI Intern Subsidy for Startups

$3,750 startup cost for 4-month intern (valued at $15,000);... · Provincial
 Grant

Laval Économique Virage Techno — Manufacturier

Up to $50,000 (Virage techno – manufacturier); up to... · Municipal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ocean Supercluster — Innovation Ecosystem ...

Free
How is this different from the Technology Leadership program?
Innovation Ecosystem projects must be non-commercial — they build workforce capacity, industry networks, and Canada's ocean brand. Technology Leadership funds commercial product development and commercialization. The two streams have distinct eligibility and cannot overlap for the same project.
Do we need to be an OSC member before applying?
Yes. All consortium members must join OSC before applying. Associate Membership requires no financial investment and can be completed via an Expression of Interest on the OSC website.
What is the October 2027 deadline?
All OSC-funded projects must be completed and final reports submitted by October 2027. This is a firm program-wide deadline linked to the federal Global Innovation Clusters mandate. Apply with enough lead time to execute a meaningful project.

Browse More Funding

Federal Grants Clean Technology Grants Manufacturing Grants Technology Grants Explore All Programs Take the Quiz