British Columbia is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to maritime innovation. The province has launched the COAST Innovation Challenge, a new initiative under its Integrated Marketplace platform, designed to accelerate the development and deployment of renewable-energy technologies in the maritime sector. This isn’t just about green energy—it’s about economic growth, energy sovereignty, and positioning B.C. as a leader in the blue economy.
The COAST Innovation Challenge is a call to arms for B.C. technology companies to step up and deliver solutions that can benefit maritime operations, including those of the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. Successful applicants can receive up to $100,000 or 50% of eligible project costs, providing a significant boost to their research and development efforts.
This initiative is part of B.C.’s Look West economic strategy, which aims to grow the province’s maritime sector and transition to renewable energy. “Through our Look West economic strategy, we’re creating opportunities for B.C.’s technology sector to lead Canada’s maritime transition to renewable energy,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “The COAST Innovation Challenge will help our local innovators develop solutions that serve both civilian and defence maritime operations, building a stronger, more independent B.C. economy while advancing our clean-energy future.”
The challenge is not just about funding. Successful applicants will also receive testing and demonstration support from the B.C. Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub. This is a unique opportunity for blue economy entrepreneurs to test and demonstrate their innovations directly within and to the communities and industry clientele they aim to serve.
“This new funding will accelerate the sector’s transition to renewable energy, as part of our Look West plan,” said Darlene Rotchford, parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans affairs. “By growing sectors like shipbuilding, clean energy and emerging technologies, we’re supporting B.C. companies, entrepreneurs and workers to seize on generational opportunities, to lead in innovation and strengthen our economy.”
The COAST Innovation Challenge is seeking technology solutions in three key areas: energy generation from renewable sources (wave, tidal, off- and on-shore wind, solar), energy management and storage to increase capacity and resilience, and rapidly deployable, modular and scalable systems. These solutions will leverage B.C.’s coastal geography to test, demonstrate and derisk renewable-energy technologies that can benefit organizations and groups such as the Canadian Coast Guard, First Nations and coastal communities seeking energy sovereignty.
“This initiative leverages B.C.’s coastal geography to test, demonstrate and derisk renewable-energy technologies that can benefit organizations and groups such as the Canadian Coast Guard, First Nations and coastal communities seeking energy sovereignty,” said Jason Goldsworthy, executive director, COAST.
The call for applications closes on Dec. 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time). “Enabling innovation and the adoption of new technologies is essential to ensuring our industries remain competitive, resilient and future-focused,” said Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate B.C. “The Integrated Marketplace is a platform to leverage the strength of our province’s innovators to drive transformation. Through this innovation challenge in partnership with COAST, we’re not only accelerating maritime operations’ transition to renewable energy, but also strengthening the foundations of a critical sector that underpins our economy.”
This work is part of the Province’s Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines B.C.’s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities for people by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy. This includes delivering major projects faster, diversifying markets and growing targeted sectors, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and Quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.
B.C.’s investment in the Integrated Marketplace includes up to $41.5 million from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth. The COAST Innovation Challenge is a significant step towards a more sustainable and innovative maritime sector, and it’s a call to action for B.C.’s technology companies to lead the way.