Promoting Newfoundland and Labrador’s Ocean Economy

June 15, 2023

The Provincial Government is pleased to welcome a delegation of industry stakeholders to the province this week for an immersive experience of Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean industry.

“With a growing clean energy sector and a strategic location in the North Atlantic on a crossroads to international shipping lanes, Newfoundland and Labrador is well-positioned to be a leader in the ocean industry. The blue economy is blooming all across Canada, and it is important to showcase our industry’s immense potential for investment and partnerships to both national and international stakeholders,” said Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

Hosted in partnership with OceansAdvance, the two-day event welcomes over 30 industry leaders and seasoned professionals from the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, the United States and other parts of Canada for site tours, meetings and networking opportunities in St. John’s and Holyrood last June 15 and 16.

“OceansAdvance is excited to welcome this group of delegates from several international markets to our province. Organized with support from key provincial industry players, namely Marine Institute, Memorial University, NRC and C-Core, this two-day event will afford local companies, research and academic institutions, and government agencies the opportunity to meet with a wide array of global innovators to discuss sales, partnerships, and collaboration in the oceans sector. We look forward to providing our guests with an unprecedented opportunity to experience the impressive oceans community that makes Newfoundland and Labrador a global leader in ocean technology.” said Cathy Hogan, Executive Director of OceansAdvance.

The event begins with the Ocean Technology Speaker Series, featuring presentations from:

·       Dr. David Murrin, Director General, National Research Council Ocean Coastal River Engineering;

·       Enrico Nake, Senior Trade Officer, Embassy of Canada – Berlin, Germany ;

·       Neale Ryan, Senior Program Manager, Land and Maritime Transport, Innovate UK; and

·       Wayne Murphy, Co-Founder and Partner, HATCH.

Delegates received tours of the National Research Council facilities, C-Core, The Launch and Marine Institute.

Newfoundland and Labrador is home to a thriving ecosystem of innovation and exploration. From deep-sea robotics and underwater mapping to renewable energy solutions and sustainable aquaculture practices, this thriving sector is revolutionizing the understanding of the oceans and opening up new avenues for economic growth and environmental stewardship in our province. 

This event provided first-hand insights into this cutting-edge industry on an international scale, following the Provincial Government’s recent participation at the H₂O Home to Overseas conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia earlier last week.