COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies)

Ready to bring #ESG into your ocean business? Applications are OPEN for "ESG Blue," an 8-week course by University of Victoria's UVic Impact Investing Hub, offered with a near-full scholarship ($2000 value) to COAST member organizations. This course is provided through COAST's digital learning hub, Blue Pathways, which is made possible through support from founding partner Coast Capital Savings. Here's what to expect: 🔵  An 8-week, online course running from January 16-March 06, 2025 🔵 Cohort-based learning with world-leading ESG experts versed in the particularities of the ocean sector 🔵 Create an ESG plan to suit your blue economy company's needs, and benefit from 1-1 coaching with an ESG Advisor along the way 🔵 Understand impact metrics, and implement data tracking and analytics best practices to your business. COAST member companies can apply to this course and benefit from a full bursary ($2000 value) to attend. If you're already a member, learn more and apply right here: https://lnkd.in/gEvMX3kR If you're not a member yet, you can read more course information here: https://lnkd.in/g6wzBEYv Then to join COAST, sign up here! https://lnkd.in/gtdrmNnN

With a $21B ocean sector and Canada's largest ($4B) marine sector, British Columbia is at the cutting edge of ocean sector innovation. COAST is doubling down to accelerate growth with the brand-new COAST Ocean Innovation Hub. “The opening of the Ocean Innovation Hub is a big step forward in the development of British Columbia’s ocean industries,” says the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Canada | Développement économique Canada pour le Pacifique. “It will bring together businesses and entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate and harness the talent and natural resources available in our province. PacifiCan is proud to work with partners like COAST that share our ambition for B.C. Through this partnership, we are fueling local innovation and economic growth today and for years to come.” The launch of the Hub marks a major milestone for the blue economy in British Columbia and the Pacific region, and is an indicator of the sector’s global growth—expected to exceed a value of $3T USD by 2030. Spaces like the Hub play a vital role as a nexus for collaboration, community development, and innovation. COAST is grateful for support from Pacific Economic Development Canada | Développement économique Canada pour le Pacifique and BC Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation for believing in this vision, and providing instrumental support to bring it to life. Read more here, and come visit us today! https://lnkd.in/d7b5asBG

DYK? #BC's ocean economy is valued at over $21B, and its $4B maritime sector is the largest in Canada. To further the growth of our blue economy, PacifiCan and the Government of Canada are proud to support the newly opened COAST Ocean Innovation Hub, the first of its kind in B.C. This new coworking space in City of Victoria BC was launched by COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies), an initiative of South Island Prosperity Partnership, to support ocean-focused businesses and innovators. The 7,000 square foot hub is dedicated to propelling ocean and marine innovation by offering a dedicated space for ocean ventures to collaborate and grow. Learn more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d7b5asBG #PropelBC --- LSV? L’économie océanique de la #CB est évaluée à plus de 21 G$ et son secteur maritime de 4 G$ est le plus important du Canada. Pour soutenir la croissance future de notre économie bleue, PacifiCan et le gouvernement du Canada appuient fièrement le nouveau centre d’innovation des océans de COAST, première installation de ce type en C.-B. Ce nouvel espace de travail partagé situé à City of Victoria BC, lancé par le COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies), est le fruit d’une initiative du South Island Prosperity Partnership visant à soutenir les entreprises et les innovateurs et innovatrices qui travaillent dans le domaine des océans. Le centre de 7 000 pieds carrés stimulera l’innovation océanique et maritime en offrant aux entreprises océaniques un espace réservé qui favorisera leur collaboration et leur croissance. Pour en savoir plus (en anglais) ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d7b5asBG #StimulerLaCB

New COAST Talks: Podcast alert—get to know Ocean AID, our recent Pitchfest winner! Did you know that plastic comprises 80% of ocean pollution, and 70% of ocean macroplastic pollution is "ghost gear"? Discarded, abandoned, or lost fishing gear drifts through the water column or settles on the seafloor, trapping or entangling marine life and destroying vast swaths of marine habitat. Ocean AID uses real-time marine AI detection to locate marine objects like ghost gear nearly instantaneously, enabling accurate, timely cleanup for coastal stewards and conservationists. Their technology also helps with the identification of derelict vessels, fisheries monitoring, and other critical marine management tasks. Learn more from our Pitchfest winner here, or tune in on your favourite streaming service: https://lnkd.in/gEK-FR5V

Good (seaweed) news Friday: COAST member PhyCo Technologies is making headlines for their algae-based bioplastic innovation, putting Canada on the map as a global sector leader. Congratulations!

COAST is onsite today in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance Summit! Executive Director Jason Goldsworthy will moderate “Riding the Wave: Challenges and Opportunties for the Ocean Economy” featuring SEAMOR Marine Ltd., Shift Coastal Technologies Ltd., the Port of Nanaimo, and the Port Alberni Port Authority. We’re looking forward to hearing from Aaron and Dallas from South Island Prosperity Partnership, along with COAST members Pacific Seaweed Industry Association and Cascadia Seaweed, who will speak about regional economic development, purpose-driven business, the seaweed opportunity for Vancouver Island, and more. See you there! #VIEA2024

Curious about coworking with COAST? Drop in tomorrow (October 22) for an Open House at the Ocean Innovation Hub in Victoria from 12-4pm! Check out our desk options and get some work done while you're at it. All coworking plans are subsidized well below market rate to ensure ocean entrepreneurs always have access to affordable workspace. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gpQigrsv And find us here: https://lnkd.in/gM_AfD68 See you tomorrow! 🌊

This week, COAST officially opened the doors to BC's first ocean-focused coworking space—the COAST Ocean Innovation Hub! We were welcomed by Lekwungen youth Danica Paul who shared this land's long history as a gathering place, and then heard speeches that shared a common theme...."This. Is. Awesome!" Mayor Marianne Alto of Victoria spoke on the importance that a blue innovation hub will have for the regional community and economy. Lori Henderson from Pacific Economic Development Canada shared PacifiCan's emphatic support for COAST's mission, and Terry Gunning, the Chair of the South Island Prosperity Partnership Board, shared the story of the many years of collaboration that it took to bring this vision to life. We also heard about the impact of startup ecosystem support from Scott Beatty, founder and CEO of MarineLabs—he travelled around 10 feet to join us from their new office in the Hub! After our opening, we moved into COAST Pitchfest, presented by Seaspan ULC, where Ocean AID took home the Grand Prize. COAST acknowledges Pacific Economic Development Canada | Développement économique Canada pour le Pacifique and BC Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation for their vital support, which has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. Did you miss the festivities? Join us on October 22nd for an Open House, from 12pm-4pm. Sign up here, and see you soon! https://lnkd.in/gpQigrsv

We are thrilled to announce the winner of the COAST Pitchfest Grand Prize, presented by Seaspan ULC...Congratulations to Ocean AID! 🌊 Andrew Polanyi and his team walked away with a $10,000 cash prize and earned a presentation slot during a closed-door investor session this morning at the COAST Ocean Innovation Hub. Ocean AID made their case before an all-star panel of judges (Rob Bennett, Alicia Dubois, B.Sc., J.D., ICD.D, Graham Day, and K. Krasnow Waterman) alongside four other fantastic innovations from BC: FIBR.BIO, Celerity Craft, Miha Biotech Inc., and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds. FIBR.BIO also walked away with the COAST People's Choice Award to recognize them for an outstanding pitch. We are so proud to count each one of these companies among COAST's new membership community, and can't wait to support their growth in the months and years to come! Their success is a powerful testament to the ingenuity and diversity of BC's thriving ocean sector. Congratulations all! 👏👏👏 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gGuBnbrb

We are delighted to congratulate the members of the 2024 Ocean Startup Challenge cohort...50% of whom hail from British Columbia! 🌊 COAST is a proud partner of the Ocean Startup Project | Projet Startup Des Océans, and is pleased to announce that this cohort will all receive a complimentary 12-month COAST Crew membership, as well as a hot desk at the COAST Ocean Innovation Hub in Victoria, BC for the duration of the challenge. We can't wait to get to know this cohort over the next few months, and to support them on their journeys ahead!