COVE study finds surge in Canadian high-tech companies enable the wider Blue Economy

First Canadian Ocean Enterprise Study quantifies the size and activity of Canada’s “New” Blue Economy and its contribution to the global ocean sector

DARTMOUTH, NS October 7, 2021 – A first of kind study measuring Canadian Ocean Enterprises has found there has been a significant rise in the formation rate of new companies since the opening of COVE and that the size of the Ocean Enterprise ecosystem in Atlantic Canada is equivalent to the largest US Ocean Enterprise clusters, such as Massachusetts and Southern California.

The Canadian Ocean Enterprise 2020 report was developed by the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), in partnership with the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Society for Underwater Technologies (SUT).

“The information included in this study provides a higher-level of detail on the enabling technologies that support the wider blue economy,” said Melanie Nadeau, CEO of COVE. “This is a benchmark study demonstrating the strength of the ocean enterprise cluster in the Atlantic region and the growth potential in Canada.  COVE is at the centre of Canada’s ocean tech ecosystem, and we look forward to seeing further growth in future iterations of the study.”

Led by Callahan Murphy, Project Manager, New Initiatives at COVE, the study measured the ‘Ocean Enterprise’, sometimes referred to as the ‘New Blue Economy,’ which comprises the platforms, technology, and information services that deliver the ocean observations, measurements, analyses, and forecasts enabling the wider Blue or Ocean Economy.

Key findings of the Canadian Ocean Enterprise 2020 report include:

  • There has been a surge in the formation rate of new Ocean Enterprise companies coinciding with the opening of COVE and other significant investments into the ocean economy.
  • The Canadian Ocean Enterprise’s revenue per capita is comparable with the United States and exceeds the US in the number of companies per capita. 60% of Ocean Enterprise companies are clustered in Atlantic Canada, making the region equivalent to the largest US Ocean Enterprise clusters such as Massachusetts or Southern California.
  • Canadian Ocean Enterprise companies tend to be export focused with a low failure rate. 60% of these companies generate revenues in the range of $1M-$20M, which could imply a series of barriers that need to be better understood to unlock the growth potential of this industry.
  • There is strong optimism in the industry with a majority of companies expecting both an increase in employees and an increase in revenues. A noteworthy point is that this growth was expected even as businesses faced the uncertainty of the 1st and 2nd waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The majority of Ocean Enterprise companies remain focused solely on hardware and product development, with limited focus on value-added services or analysis. This presents a significant opportunity for companies to uncover value through data products and associated services.

Prior to conducting the benchmark study there was no consistent definition or standardized way to measure the size and scope of the companies that are driving innovation and technology development for ocean sensing and monitoring.

 

“I congratulate COVE for creating a benchmark for the understanding of Canada’s Ocean Enterprise business cluster – business provision of the New Blue Economy technologies and services essential for meeting the ocean information needs of the Blue Economy,” said Dr Ralph Rayner, Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, and a lead author of the U.S. Ocean Enterprise reports in his role at NOAA. “Publication of coincident Canadian and U.S. studies provides a comprehensive understanding of North American Ocean Enterprise activity, helping us to understand how this important industry cluster can support the ocean information needs of the future.”

Ocean Enterprise studies have already been conducted in the United States and United Kingdom; however, this is the first time the study has been conducted focusing on the Canadian ocean sector.

“MTS congratulates COVE on producing Canada’s first Ocean Enterprise study. It is exciting to see a vibrant Canadian Ocean Enterprise that is contributing positively to the Canada’s economy,” said Zdenka Willis, President of MTS. “Equally important is that the study methodology follows what is being done within the United Kingdom and the United States enabling a widening global understanding of the important impact of the marine technology sector on the Blue Economy.”

The Canadian Ocean Enterprise 2020 report was launched today, Oct. 7, 2021, to coincide with Melanie Nadeau and Dr. Ralph Rayner’s participation on a Sustainable Ocean Economy panel as part of the Dcarbonise Week 2021 Virtual Sustainability Summit, a pre-UN COP26 week-long Virtual Summit.

The Canadian Ocean Enterprise study can be found at www.coveocean.com

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About COVE

The Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) is an ocean tech innovation hub and business park located in Dartmouth, Canada. COVE brings together people, ideas, industry, and research to enable our community and members to work in new ways. As part of its programming, COVE fosters the development of an engaged workforce for ocean industries to meet today’s and future needs and takes advantage of both on and offshore shared infrastructure to enable new ocean products and services. COVE is a catalyst in creating the world’s next practical, commercial, and revolutionary ocean tech advances. COVE’s founding partner is Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) under the National Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition. To learn more about COVE, visit www.coveocean.com.

 

About MTS

 

The Marine Technology Society promotes awareness, understanding, and the advancement and application of marine technology. Incorporated in 1963, the international society brings together businesses, institutions, professionals, academics, and students who are ocean engineers, technologists, policy makers, and educators. Our mission is to facilitate a broader understanding of the relevance of marine technology to wider global issues by enhancing the dissemination of marine technology information. Promote and improve marine technology and related educational programs. Advance the development of the tools and procedures required to explore, study and further the responsible and sustainable use of the oceans. Our vision is to be the leading authority and advocate for marine technology and resources while promoting member success and public understanding. To learn more about MTS, visit https://www.mtsociety.org/.

 

About the SUT

The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) is a multidisciplinary learned society that brings together organisations and individuals with a common interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering. SUT was founded in 1966 and has members from more than 40 countries, including engineers, scientists, other professionals, and students working in these areas. In recent decades many of our members have come from the offshore hydrocarbon sector, today we also see growing numbers of members from offshore renewables, marine autonomous systems, and the policy, law and insurance sectors who support offshore activities of many kinds. To learn more about SUT, visit https://www.sut.org/.

 

 

 

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