National industry group the Ocean Startup Project is seeking applicants to its new cleantech competition, held under a partnership with the municipalities of Port Alberni, BC, Rimouski, QC and Yarmouth, NS.

The Ocean Communities Climate Challenge will connect entrants for collaborative projects aimed at monitoring and predicting ocean conditions, making port communities carbon neutral, fostering circular economy activity and protecting and leveraging natural resources.

“Collaboration across this country, like the Ocean Communities Climate Challenge, is how Canada is going to build a world-class ocean startup ecosystem," said Ocean Startup Project executive director Donald Grant in a statement. "The opportunities in the Blue Economy are vast and it is Innovation and entrepreneurship that will harness the economic opportunity, but also solve the most pressing issues our oceans and planet face.

"We are fortunate to have so many communities across this country that are awakening to the opportunity in the Blue Economy, and we commend our partners for stepping up and actively pursuing the incredible potential that exists.”

Created in 2020, the Ocean Startup Project’s goal is to help turn entrepreneurial ideas or technology into viable businesses. Since 2020, more than $2 million in funding has been provided to participants in the first three cohorts of its flagship Ocean Startup Challenge.

The cleantech competition will begin May 16, when entrants with business ideas will pitch their projects to participants who have not yet chosen a team. Then, the competitors will begin a customer discovery sprint and a judging committee will evaluate their work, eventually choosing up to three winning projects. The winners will also receive cash prizes towards building out their ideas.

The deadline to register is May 11. Interested entrepreneurs can find more information and an application form here.