(Halifax, NS) Today, the H2O conference, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) and Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, announced Net-Zero BVLOS Drones for Oceans Project. It focuses on addressing the technical challenges of limited flight time and range of existing net-zero drones, and the size, weight, and power of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) systems that hold back market growth. The home-grown development of cutting-edge technology designed and developed in Canada is in an emerging high- tech sector.  

Led by Canadian UAVs in Calgary, AB, the Net-Zero BVLOS Drones for Oceans Project enables cutting-edge drone technology to be deployed for a wide range of applications (e.g. shipping monitoring, environmental monitoring, reporting and verification for carbon capture and storage, aquaculture, offshore energy production, search and rescue) in the ocean ecosystem to drive commercial growth, improvements in productivity, and/or have a positive and long-lasting impact on the environment.

Together with partner Limosaero Limited in the United Kingdom and collaborators including Natural Resource Canada, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Scottish Association for Marine Science, University of Birmingham and the Northumbria University, this project has a total value of almost $1.2 million. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is contributing more than $318,000 with the balance of funding coming from Innovate UK and project partners.

This project will enable advanced scientific research in the ocean, coastal regions, and the Arctic. The project contributes to a broader understanding of environmental changes due to climate change and this knowledge is crucial for making informed decisions and implementing effective measures to protect these areas for future generations.

Quotes:
“This strategic international partnership between Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and Innovate UK highlights how collaboration is creating real benefits for Canadians and for the ocean sector beyond our borders,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Net-zero BVLOS drones for oceans, one of the four projects unveiled today, demonstrates how government support for Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is fostering transformative technologies that are critical to  growth and sustainability within the blue economy.”

“Through collaboration, we know that ocean innovation can have important applications across ocean sectors. The Net-Zero BVLOS Drones for Oceans Project comes from our first-ever international call for proposals with our partner Innovate UK. It focuses on addressing the technical challenges of limited flight time and range of existing net-zero drones, and the size, weight, and power of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) systems with applications across shipping monitoring, environmental monitoring, reporting and verification for carbon capture and storage, aquaculture, offshore energy production, and search and rescue.”
-Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca

About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products,processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk

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