Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK EDGE, is an acceleration programme for up to 8 innovative high-growth and scaling businesses to work with a world-leading incubator in Canada, building long-term relationships and foundations to accelerate future market growth. We would welcome applications from innovative companies in the ocean sector to join our tailored 5-month incubation programme delivered in partnership with COVE, a global innovation centre for the ocean technology sector located in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The programme includes participation at Canada’s premier event for the ocean technology sector, the H20 Conference, including the opportunity for companies to demonstrate their technology offering to industry experts and prospective customers at COVE Demo Day.
TO APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAMME, YOU MUST:
- Be a UK-based company
- Be a business with fewer than 500 employees
- Have a focus on the ocean sector
WHY CANADA? Canada has become a world leader in engineering products and services suited to extremely harsh ocean environments, marine remote sensing technologies, and ocean observing systems. Atlantic Canada contributes more than half of Canada’s $36bn ocean economy and is home to a strong cluster of ocean industries and to groundbreaking ocean research. This region is quickly becoming a globally recognized hub of oceans expertise with the potential to be a significant contributor to a number of Global Value Chains associated with the oceans sector. WHY COVE? COVE brings together people, ideas, industry, and research to enable their community to work in new ways. It fosters the development of an engaged workforce for ocean industries to meet todays and future needs and takes advantage of both on and offshore shared infrastructure to enable new ocean products and services. COVE is a catalyst in creating the world’s next practical, commercial, and revolutionary ocean technology advances.
FOCUS AREAS. This programme is particularly relevant for businesses in the areas of:
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries
- Marine Energy
- Marine Environmental Monitoring
- Marine Net Zero
- Marine Observations
- Marine Robotics
- Marine Transportation
- Ocean Plastics
KEY TECHNOLOGIES with marine applications including, but not limited to:
- Alternative Energy
- Aquaculture Systems
- Autonomous Vessels
- Fishery Processes and Management
- Ocean Sensors
- Robotics and Drones
- Vessel Design and Manufacture
KEY DATES:
- Programme Briefing: 01 November 2022
- Applications Close: 20 November 2022
- Shortlist Interviews: 30 November – 02 December 2022
- Cohort Confirmed: By 16 December 2022
- Programme Commences: January 2023
WHAT TO EXPECT: Access and introductions: Connections to customers and partners across Canada and North America. Assistance with finding and recruiting skilled workers from Canada. Scaling in Canada and Securing Opportunities: Mentoring and expert sessions focused on; go-to-market strategy, value chain optimisation, customer acquisition, local partnerships, sales and market intelligence.
Goal setting: Masterclasses, interactive workshops, online resources, and one-on-one coaching. Legal information: Session(s) on process maps, business registration, and IP treatment in Canada. Innovation community: Participate in COVE’s vibrant community of ocean entrepreneurs and industry professionals and have access to onshore and offshore technical infrastructure such as COVE’s Stella Maris.
Advisory support: Guidance from sector experts, mentors, and experienced entrepreneurs in Canada, and local support in the UK from an Innovate UK EDGE Innovation and Growth Specialist.
Market visits: Two funded market visits to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada are planned as part of this progamme. The first visit will be in January/February 2023, and the second visit in June 2023, including participation at the H20 Conference and a demonstration at the COVE Demo Day.
WHAT IS THE COST? Innovate UK and Innovate UK EDGE will fund and organize flights, accommodation, in-market transfers for successful applicants for two group market visits in January/February 2023 and June 2023. One representative from each company will be funded per visit. On acceptance to the programme a commitment fee of £1000 will be obtained from each company, which will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan. Noncompletion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fee.
PROGRAMME BRIEFING – TUESDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2022 15:30 – 16:30
To learn more about the programme, the application process, and to ask questions, register now for the Virtual Programme Briefing Event.
Register HERE
HOW TO APPLY: The Global Incubator Programme has a competitive application process where only the best applications will be successful following an evaluation process. Those shortlisted will be interviewed by a panel and finalists will undergo financial eligibility checks. All applications must be made online through the website HERE and received by midnight on Sunday, 20 November 2022. A separate company pitch deck should be uploaded with your application form. Please note: Successful applicants will be expected to fully comply with any conditions of travel to Canada. You may be required to provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test ahead of travelling. The safety of our delegation is a priority. Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. As such we welcome applications from those under-represented in the ocean sector.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE
For more information, assistance with your application, or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact: Julie Coles at email enquiries8@innovateukedge.ukri.org or call +44 (0) 7974 984766