Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program

Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program

Funds ocean innovation ecosystems with workforce, training, and partnerships to strengthen real-world implementation.

Canada's Ocean Supercluster's Innovation Ecosystem Projects and Activity Program (IEP) is the non-commercial co-investment stream of OSC, designed to strengthen the infrastructure, workforce, and networks that underpin Canada's ocean economy. Unlike the Technology Leadership Program, IEP funds initiatives that do not involve technology development or IP generation — the focus is on workforce development, skills training, Indigenous inclusion, ocean network building, international partnership development, and ocean sector awareness campaigns. OSC covers up to 75 percent of eligible project costs under this stream, with the applicant consortium covering at least 25 percent. Project values can range from thousands to millions of Canadian dollars, and the program accepts prequalifications on a continuous intake basis throughout the year.

All IEP projects must conclude by October 2027, the hard end-date of OSC's second federal mandate period. Eligible applicants include consortia of companies, universities, nonprofit organisations, and Indigenous organisations operating in Canada's ocean economy. Individual applicants are not eligible; consortium structures are the norm. Funded projects under this stream include the CAD $1 million Indigenous Career Pivot Project, the CAD $1.8 million Marine Safety Training Online Project, the Blue Futures Pathways Project, the Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology Project, and the Ocean Allies DEI capacity program. OSC's talent and workforce development activities have created more than 5,000 jobs and skilled more than 3,000 individuals through funded projects to date.

The assessment process follows the same five-stage structure used across OSC programs: prequalification, prequalification assessment, proposal phase, proposal submission, and proposal assessment. Independent experts conduct each review under a Conflict of Interest policy. Applicants begin by submitting the IEP Proposal Form (available as a Word document from the OSC website) along with cost eligibility documentation. Given the October 2027 project-completion backstop and the assessment timeline involved, organisations seeking IEP funding should initiate prequalification by early-to-mid 2026 to maintain a viable project delivery window.