About Us
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Newfoundland & Labrador
Ocean and Marine Technologies
The Newfoundland & Labrador economy is based largely on marine industries such as oil and gas production, fisheries and transportation. Through investment in science and technology, the province will become a world-class centre for ocean engineering, an area of growing importance.
As part of its Atlantic Initiative, the National Research Council (NRC) is working with the federal and provincial governments, local business, and Memorial University of Newfoundland to build momentum for a sustainable, broad-based ocean and marine technology cluster.
| COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
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June 2000 – NRC launches Atlantic Initiative
Oct. 2000 – NRC and Industry Canada launch technology roadmapping exercise
Jan. 2001 – St. John’s Round Table attracts 85 participants from industry, academia and government
Nov. 2001 – Federal government announces $20 million in funding for new IOT and related programs
Mar. 2002 – Oceans Advance private-public cluster partnership begins operations
Sept. 2002 – Creation of $60-million Ocean Partners Investment Fund and trade mission to Ireland
Dec. 2002 – Technology Roadmap Exercise completed
Aug. 2003 – Completion of NRC IPF
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The total world market in oceans-related business – including revenues from offshore oil and gas production, shipping, naval expenditures, submarine telecommunications, leisure boating, shipbuilding and aquaculture – was more than CAN$1.5 trillion in 1999.
Following a successful St. John’s Round Table in January 2001, the Newfoundland & Labrador business community has embraced this initiative. In February 2002, the cluster advisory board – comprised of NRC, provincial government and industry representatives – hired a development executive to oversee cluster-building activities.
Since that time, a business, government and academic partnership has been formed, called Oceans Advance, to make the St. John’s region an international location of choice for ocean technology. The City of St. John’s has also launched a campaign to market itself as Canada’s “Centre of Ocean Excellence”.
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Meanwhile, through community consultations, NRC and Industry Canada are leading the Marine and Ocean Industry Technology Roadmap process to identify future business opportunities and technology requirements.
| "This initiative will allow Newfoundland to build on its strengths and identify niche markets that will strengthen the province’s place on the world economic map by developing a world-class technology cluster." |
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Hon. Gerry Byrne, Minister
of State, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency |
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So far, four broad opportunities have been identified: 1) shipbuilding and industrial marine; 2) marine safety, communication, transport, recreation and port development; 3) fisheries and aquaculture; and 4) ocean technology, ocean research, information infrastructure, mapping and other ocean services.
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Newfoundland & Labrador has a solid R&D infrastructure from which to grow and nurture the cluster. The NRC Institute for Ocean Technology , based in St. John’s, has started expanding its core R&D programs.
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NRC is recruiting staff for 25 new research and technical positions. It has also completed plans to construct a dedicated Industry Partnership Facility (IPF) in 2003 to support young entrepreneurs, start-ups and spin-offs. And, NRC is augmenting existing services aimed at increasing the innovation capacity of local businesses.
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The NRC Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information is expanding its Newfoundland Information Centre, which has one of the world’s largest collections of ocean engineering information. The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program is strengthening its network of locally-based Industrial Technology Advisors.
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| "Many in the local industry believe the ocean technology cluster is poised to help leverage the sector’s technology capacity for strong export growth based on local research, development and production." |
Jeff Tulk, President,
Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Technology Industries |
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| FACTS AND FIGURES |
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Canada’s ocean technology sector includes some 500 companies employing 70,000 people
47% of ocean technology companies are based in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia
90% of their market for products and services is outside Canada
Estimated value of world ocean market in 1999: more than
CAN$1.5 trillion (and growing)
NRC facilities/equipment: offshore engineering basin, towing tank, ice tank, cold rooms, cavitation tunnels, marine dynamic test facility, yacht dynanometer |
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| NRC’S MAJOR PARTNERS |
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Province of Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Technology Industries (Nati)
Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association (NOIA)
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC)
Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering (C-CORE)
AMEC, Husky Oil, Oceanic Consulting Corporation, ProDive Marine |
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For more information, please contact:
NRC Institute for Ocean Technology (NRC-IOT)
IOT Web site
Dr. Mary Williams
Director General
(709) 772-2469
Email Dr. Mary Williams
Oceans Advance
Dennis Hogan
Development Executive
(709) 757-3250
Email Dennis Hogan
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