The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), led by Dalhousie University, represents an historic partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. It will be one of the world’s most significant international ocean science collaborations. OFI will focus on the globally significant Northwest Atlantic and Canadian Arctic gateway. With this investment, Canada is now a world leader in ocean science.

OFI is built on world-class Canadian university expertise of Dalhousie, Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of Prince Edward Island, together with eight international partners including four of the top five ocean institutes in the world as well as partners in the Government of Canada’s federal laboratories, the Royal Canadian Navy, the National Film Board of Canada and national and international industry.

Today, Minister Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, announced $94 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) to support the Ocean Frontier Institute, the largest grant in the history of the three Canadian partner universities. OFI has also attracted an additional $125 million in support from provincial governments and partners, including a gift of $25 million from Mr. John Risley, prominent business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. This massive total investment of $220 million dollars is unprecedented in Canada’s ocean science sector.

OFI’s innovative research program is focused on understanding key aspects of ocean and ecosystem change; delivering ocean data science and technology tools to policy-makers, scientists and industry; and developing safe and sustainable solutions for ocean development. The Northwest Atlantic is one of the few places on earth where ocean changes are happening first and happening fastest, making it an epicenter of international scientific interest.

The OFI will provide the scientific, technological and human capacity to advance Canada’s ocean research leadership. OFI research will foster innovations related to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to support transformation of those industries, as well as the development of disruptive ocean technologies (innovations creating new markets and value markets) and data solutions to support Canada’s growing ocean tech industry. OFI’s innovative research program is focused on understanding key aspects of ocean and ecosystem change and developing strategic and effective solutions that can apply both locally and globally.

Through linkages with organizations like the National Research Council of Canada’s Ocean Technology Enterprise Centre and Memorial University’s Marine Institute in St. John’s, and the Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE) in Halifax, OFI will help develop a nexus of high quality marine industries.

The institute will attract and retain world-leading research talent to Canada, and advance the region’s position as a center of ocean-related teaching and learning. The research developed through OFI will allow Canada to optimize opportunities and minimize the economic and environmental risks in the expanding ocean economy.

The OFI’s headquarters will be located at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an additional centre located at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Find more on the Ocean Frontier Institute here.