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Oil Spill Response Challenge

Q: How much funding can be received?

Oil Spill Response Challenge Funds up to 2000000% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the Oil Spill Response Challenge a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Oil Spill Response Challenge is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Oil Spill Response Challenge?

Oil Spill Response Challenge is funded by Natural Resources Canada, Impact Canada

Q: Who is eligible for the Oil Spill Response Challenge program?

To be eligible for the Oil Spill Response Challenge program, you must: • Eligible legal entity • Innovative, rapidly deployable solution • Improves response time and/or recovery

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Oil Spill Response Challenge?

You can contact Natural Resources Canada, Impact Canada.

Q: Where is the Oil Spill Response Challenge available?

The Oil Spill Response Challenge program is available across Canada.

Last Update: February 4, 2026

Canada

Supports innovative oil spill response technology development

Grant and Funding

Natural Resources Canada, Impact Canada

At a glance

Overview

Eligible projects

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Eligibility

Selection criteria

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Other info

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

No objectives are currently available

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $

Timeline

Closing date : June 1, 2022

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Professional, scientific and technical services

Location

Canada

Legal structures

Non-profit

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

All groups

Non-profit candidates

Sector of operation

Research
Environment

Target groups

All the groups

Revenue structures

All structures

Scope

All dimensions

Overview

This program supports innovative oil spill detection and recovery solutions in Canadian aquatic environments. Funding can reach up to $2,000,000, with support for prototype development, scaling, and technology demonstration.

Activities funded

Develop rapidly deployable solutions that improve oil spill response time and/or increase recovery versus conventional technology
Develop detection solutions to improve timeliness of oil spill detection and support incident command decision-making
Develop remote sensing approaches (including satellites or autonomous vehicles) to collect oil spill data
Develop AI, modelling, or data analytics tools to consolidate data and improve response outcomes
Develop environmentally sustainable recovery solutions that reduce oil persistence and support environmental recovery

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 295,000

Prototype drone and AI system for rapid oil slick detection

$ 985,000

Build and demonstrate modular low-energy skimmer system for nearshore recovery

Documents Needed

Eligibility

The applicant must be an eligible legal entity (or an individual/group recognized as a legal entity)
The proposed solution must advance an innovative and rapidly deployable oil spill response approach
The solution must aim to improve response time and/or increase oil recovery compared with conventional technology
The proposal must address oil spill response in diverse Canadian aquatic environments
International applicants must have, or partner with, a legal entity in Canada

Who is eligible?

For-profit and not-for-profit organizations (including companies, industry associations, and research centres)
Indigenous organizations and groups located in Canada
Post-secondary and academic institutions
Individuals or groups recognized as legal entities
International individuals and entities (with, or partnered with, a legal entity in Canada)

Who is not eligible

International individuals or entities without, and not partnered with, a legal entity in Canada

Eligible expenses

Prototype development costs for the proposed oil spill response technology
Costs to scale and demonstrate the technology (for selected finalists)

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Eligible geographic areas

Canada

Selection criteria

Processing and Agreement

Applications are assessed through a competitive selection process
Ten semi-finalists are selected (noted as Summer 2022)
Five finalists are selected from the top semi-finalist solutions
A grand prize is awarded to the best demonstrated technology

Additional information

International applicants must have, or partner with, a legal entity in Canada
Ten semi-finalists were to be selected in Summer 2022
The program is structured as a challenge with semi-finalist, finalist, and grand prize stages

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Oil Spill Response Challenge Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Oil Spill Response Challenge. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Oil Spill Response Challenge?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Oil Spill Response Challenge?

Develop rapidly deployable solutions that improve oil spill response time and/or increase recovery versus conventional technology Develop detection solutions to improve timeliness of oil spill detection and support incident command decision-making Develop remote sensing approaches (including satellites or autonomous vehicles) to collect oil spill data Develop AI, modelling, or data analytics tools to consolidate data and improve response outcomes Develop environmentally sustainable recovery solutions that reduce oil persistence and support environmental recovery