Accelerating industry and commercialization
Accelerating ocean science, technology, and industry innovations  

Overview

The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) is increasing the impact of ocean research through robust programs to support research innovation and commercialization (I&C).

The goals of the I&C programs are to:

  • Accelerate industry through research insight and collaboration;
  • Support the commercialization of innovation from research;
  • Drive economic growth and social innovation by fostering researcher engagement with industry through an ecosystem of training, collaboration, and partner-funded support;
  • Inspire, initiate, and invest in open innovation from natural and social scientists to bring new commercial and social enterprises to market.

Themes and opportunities

Providing expertise

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Supporting startup and industry partners with expertise and assets to drive innovations.

Driving innovation

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Working with partners to develop new technologies for research ​and commercial solutions.

Creating impact

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Developing operationally sustainable commercial ​and social enterprises.​

University-industry research partnership philosophy

University-industry collaborations can advance knowledge, innovation, and the delivery of real impact to the body of science, community, and industry.  

Scientific integrity and transparency always serve as guiding principles for university-industry collaboration. Our researchers and industry partners are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of honesty, objectivity, and academic freedom.

Read our philosophy

Success stories

SafetyNet Technologies

Our researchers have advised SafetyNet Technologies on fish behavior and fishing policy to help develop their products that reduce commercial bycatch by using specific wavelengths of light to deter or attract specific species.

DownNorth Technologies

Our Seed Fund supported researchers to develop a Microbial Fuel Cell system to block the production of toxic sulfide in sediments. This technology is being commercialized by DownNorth Technologies to allow coastal aquaculture sites to reduce their impact to the sediments and run more efficiently. It is also being introduced to recirculating aquaculture systems to reduce sedimentation buildup within the recirculation tanks, making production more efficient.

Dartmouth Ocean Technologies

Our Seed Fund supported researchers to develop a Lab on Chip (LOC) sensor to measure phosphate. The LOC technology revolutionizes how phosphate is measured in the field and has applications for aquaculture, agricultural runoff, and coastal water monitoring applications. The technology is being commercialized by Dartmouth Ocean Technologies with first products deployed on the COVE Stella Maris and scheduled for an Ocean Supercluster project with Innovasea.

Graphite Innovation and Technologies

Our Seed Fund supported researchers to develop a novel graphene-based coating to make antifouling paints for commercial ships more efficient, more durable, and more sustainable, thus improving ocean health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the ships. The coating technology is being commercialized by Graphite Innovation and Technologies and will be applied to commercial vessels in a funded Ocean Supercluster project with Horizon Maritime and Transport Canada.

Mara Renewables

Our large research project "Improving Sustainability & Mitigating the Challenges of Aquaculture" helped develop many science and technology outcomes, including the opportunity to use oil made from marine algae grown in tanks to replace wild-caught fish as a key feedstock in salmon farming. This allows salmon aquaculture to be more sustainable and scale faster by reducing the pressure on other fish stocks for feed. The Institute’s researchers are collaborating with Mara Renewables to bring this technology to market.

Contact

Dr. Morteza Jeyhani
Manager, Innovation and Commercialization
Email: [email protected]

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