The immense challenges associated with the changing climate, Global Net-Zero, damage to ocean eco-systems and biodiversity, and the need for safe and sustainable ocean food production are too large-scale and complex for one organization, one research sector, or one country to tackle alone.

Working with others allow the Institute to reap the many benefits of engaging with the wider community and, to date, our partners and collaborators have contributed in the following ways:

• Sharing existing knowledge, ideas, data, and expertise
• Providing access to specific facilities (at no-cost or reduced rates)
• Funding the construction and equipping of new state-of-the-art laboratory facilities
• Providing equipment and software
• Providing or securing access to sea-going research vessels
• Creating joint training programs to enhance the international pool of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) skilled in ocean science and management
• Co-funding exchange programs for both early-stage and advanced researchers

The Institute interacts with over 200 regional, national, and international organizations in 10 countries – academic, governmental, environmental, industry and commerce, philanthropic, and non-profit.

The 41 “Founding Partners” shown below, are those named in the original proposal to CFREF:

Academic

OFI is a partnership led by Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island.

International

• Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Germany - Researchers explore the effect of high northern latitude processes and change on lower latitude climate and ecosystems, as well as the effect of large currents on ecosystem shifts in productive coastal waters
• Christian-Albrechts-Universitat  zu Kiel, Germany - Focused on geological hazards, fisheries biology within ecological and economic constraints, ocean climate change, atmosphere-ocean interactions, and maritime law and ocean governance
• GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Oceans Research, Germany - One of the world’s leading institutes in the field of marine sciences, GEOMAR has an ongoing interest in the Northwest Atlantic, particularly regarding the variability in ocean processes in the Labrador Sea
• Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway - Provides advice to Norwegian authorities on aquaculture and the surrounding ecosystems. IMR is extremely active in aquaculture planning, salmon health management, and wild-culture interactions
• ISBlue (formerly LabexMER), France - To address the increasing challenges facing ocean and coastal ecosystems, the "Interdisciplinary graduate School for the blue planet" (ISblue) was  created to train the next generation of ocean innovators and science leaders and place them at the forefront of research to answer the needs of  the growing blue economy through top level research-based training
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), USA - A leader in ocean, atmosphere, and earth sciences, with a mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution, and future of the natural world
• Marine Institute, Galway, Ireland - Marine research, technology development, and innovation that informs policy and supports the sustainable development of the country’s marine resource
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), USA - WHOI scientists and engineers are committed to understanding all facets of the ocean as well as its complex connections with Earth’s atmosphere, land, ice, seafloor, and life

Private sector

• Acadian Seaplants Ltd.
• ASL Environmental Sciences
• AXYS Technologies
• Clearwater
• Cooke Aquaculture
• EWOS Innovation
• exactEarth
• IBM
• International Submarine Engineering Ltd.
• Irving Shipbuilding Ltd.
• LeeWay Marine
• Ocean Choice International
• Ocean Sonics
• Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia
• Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc.
• RBR
• Seaforth Geosurveys
• VEMCO
• Xeos Technologies Inc.

Public sector

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Defense Research and Development Canada
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• National Film Board of Canada
• Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Province of Nova Scotia
• Royal Canadian Navy

Not-for-profit

• GenomeAtlantic

Since its inception in 2016, the Institute’s Executive and researchers have engaged with a further 168 organizations across Canada and globally, in pursuit of our research, training, and advisory aims and objectives. Some have been involved already in projects and some are committed to participating in later years.