Canada's Ocean Supercluster — Technology Leadership Project Program

Who is eligible?

This grant is aimed at fostering projects that contribute to the development and commercialization of ocean solutions and involve collaboration among various industry partners in Canada.

• Project relevance and contribution to the development and commercialization of ocean solutions (25%)
• Project business case (25%)
• Quality of collaboration and reach of impact (25%)
• Project execution plan and budget (25%)

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain organizations primarily based on their funding source and the nature of their activities. These restrictions ensure that funds are offered to eligible industry partners that drive innovation in the ocean economy.

• Federal Crown corporations, due to their funding source.
• Government entities, including federal, provincial-territorial, or municipal bodies.
• Post-secondary institutions, unless involved as non-matching collaborators.
• Non-investing not-for-profit organizations, unless they can act as Industry Investing Organizations.
• Foreign-based companies that are not incorporated in Canada and hence not eligible to be Industry Members.
• Entities requesting reimbursement for cost overruns from previously approved OSC projects.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses that are necessary for the successful completion and execution of the Core Technology Leadership Project.

• Funded Eligible Project Costs adhered to under the OSC In-Kind Contributions and Cost Eligibility Guidelines.
• Foreign costs that can be reimbursable upon approval according to the OSC's Foreign Cost Guidelines.
• Industry-matched funding costs, with at least 75% defined as cash contributions.
• Costs incurred by Project Participants eligible for quarterly reimbursement.
• Collaborative investment where no more than 80% comes from one participant.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies with operations in Canada, as defined by the eligibility requirements for Industry Investing Organizations. The geographic scope is specifically targeted to Canadian entities that contribute to the ocean economy.

• Organizations with operations in Canada.
• Entities incorporated in Canada.
• Indigenous organizations within Canada.

Here are additional relevant details for understanding the application process and requirements for the Core Technology Leadership Project grant:

• The OSC promotes DEI through collaborations and partnerships with indigenous rights holders and underrepresented communities, demonstrating a commitment to diverse workforce inclusion.
• To proceed with the project beyond preliminary qualification, all participants must sign a Project Agreement, and the Lead Partner must become an OSC member prior to full proposal submission.
• Participants must track their project's progress with quarterly reports on activities performed by all participants to ensure compliance with OSC's reporting requirements.
• The reimbursement is structured such that participants must initially cover project costs upfront and will then be reimbursed quarterly upon submitting a claim.
• For successful reimbursement, it is crucial for applicants to adhere to OSC's quarterly claims and deadlines, as well as align with the OSC's Cost Eligibility Guidelines.
• Projects must address distinctiveness from previously approved OSC projects and demonstrate their transformational and innovative nature, advancing technology readiness levels significantly during the project's lifetime.
• Submissions must include a diversity and inclusion statement or policy during the preliminary qualification phase, highlighting the project's alignment with DEI goals.