Ocean Supercluster

• Project proposal form
• Project financial workbook
• Corporate due diligence certificate
• Financial due diligence checklist
• Project finance due diligence questionnaire

Who is eligible?

• For-profit companies.
• Non-profit organizations.
• Academic institutions.
• Indigenous organizations.
• Government agencies and other ocean-sector organizations.

Who is not eligible

• Foreign companies not incorporated in Canada cannot receive OSC Industry Matching Funds.
• Government organizations cannot receive OSC Industry Matching Funds.

Eligible expenses

• Wages, salaries, and non-discretionary benefits for project work.
• Subcontractor fees, equipment rental, materials, travel, and facility rental.
• Communications, marketing, patent, conference, and trade show costs tied to project delivery.
• Other direct costs such as market studies, feasibility studies, shipping, insurance, and Indigenous participation honoraria.
• Capital expenditures and certain foreign costs, subject to approval.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred before the letter of award or after the project end date.
• Routine administration, overhead, and legal costs tied to contracting.
• Senior leadership wages that are not directly incremental to the project.
• Fines, penalties, contingencies, meals, incidentals, and discretionary benefits.
• Costs covered by government rebates or tax credits.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• Organizations in Canada or abroad may join as OSC members.

• Project business case and commercialization potential (25%).
• Relevance and contribution to ocean solution development (25%).
• Quality of collaboration and broader impact (25%).
• Execution plan, budget, and feasibility (25%).

• Step 1: Prepare preliminary qualification materials
  • Complete the prescribed concept and budget templates.
  • Identify project partners and collaborators.
• Step 2: Submit preliminary qualification
  • Send the submission to technology@oceansupercluster.ca.
  • Wait for OSC review and feedback.
• Step 3: Prepare the full proposal
  • Complete the proposal materials in the prescribed format.
  • Sign the final proposal with all project partners.
• Step 4: Submit the full proposal
  • Submit all proposal files as instructed by OSC.
  • Respond to any questions or requested adjustments during review.
• Step 5: Agreement and contracting
  • Sign the Project Agreement if approved.
  • Proceed to contracting before funding is advanced.

• Preliminary qualification is reviewed by OSC.
• Eligible projects may be invited to submit a full proposal.
• Proposals are assessed by a project assessment panel and project selection committee.
• Final recommendations are ratified by the OSC Board.
• Successful applicants receive a conditional approval letter and must sign a project agreement before funding is advanced.

Here are additional relevant details for Canada's Ocean Supercluster grant:

• The Supercluster aims at fostering innovation through specific programs tailored towards different need areas in the ocean sector.
• It places a strong emphasis on collaboration between industry partners, academic institutions, and government entities.
• Focus is also placed on engaging and integrating under-represented groups in the ocean economy to enhance innovation and diversification.
• The cluster provides avenues for knowledge sharing and networking through events, workshops, and conferences.
• There is an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from building Canada’s reputation as a leader in the global ocean economy.
• Engagement opportunities are available beyond financial support, including mentorship and strategic advice.
• Successful projects are expected to align with the values of creativity, inclusivity, collaboration, and ambition.