Developing the Ocean Networks Canada Centre for Enterprise and Engagement

Understanding the oceans has never been so critical to our national and global futures. Canada has gained an international leadership position in a new generation of ocean science and technology with the creation of the VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada cabled ocean observatories managed through Ocean Networks Canada (ONC). These facilities enable researchers to pursue many vital questions about the oceans and, at the same time, create unprecedented opportunities for commercialization, increased public engagement and applications to priority areas of public policy. The creation of the ONC Centre for Enterprise and Engagement (ONCEE) under the Government of Canada´s Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program will maximize the economic and commercial benefits from this major research investment. Canada is home to a significant and globally competitive ocean technology industry. ONCEE will help this industry to maintain international competitiveness, its culture of entrepreneurship and its supply of trained people in four market/product areas: sensors and instruments, ocean observatory technology, information and communications technology (ICT), and public engagement. At the same time, ONCEE will actively encourage collaboration with international companies building on partnerships already in place.