March 2021: Monthly update from the President
The identity and livelihood of Newfoundland and Labrador is tied inextricably to the sea, so it is no surprise that a great deal of research at Memorial University is tied to the blue economy – essentially the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
With our history and physical location to bolster our position, we have emerged as full participants in the blue economy. Our assets are numerous, our areas of expertise vast and our memories long – the cod moratorium shows us what can happen when a resource isn’t properly managed.
Our deep understanding of Canada’s harshest environments is based on world-class research and facilities and supported by strong partnerships.
Green ship technology research in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science hopes to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts; aquaculture can address global food insecurity and provides much needed jobs in remote, coastal areas of the province; building artificial reefs in Placentia Bay is creating new fish habitats; and millions have been invested in minimizing the impact of oil spills.
The Holyrood Marine Base is quickly becoming a hub of blue economy research and, just this month, launched an underwater ocean observatory in Conception Bay that will enable real-time monitoring of oceanographic conditions and marine life. Enhancing ocean observation is part of the ongoing expansion of the Marine Institute’s applied research and training facility at Holyrood to support development, testing and validation of next-generation ocean technology.
Genesis has always supported the Newfoundland and Labrador tech industry, and combining technology and the blue economy is a natural fit. Through the Ocean Startup project, Genesis is collaborating with five other Atlantic Canadian incubator programs with the goal of creating 30 high-potential ocean technology companies. Already, 52 start-ups have received funding and more than 100 have been provided some type of support.
With companies like Virtual Marine, Rutter and Seaformatics graduating from Genesis, we know how to help transform ideas into reality, and how to help grow the blue economy in Newfoundland and Labrador.
These three companies – and many others – got their start in the classrooms and laboratories of Memorial. And with record student enrolment in fall 2020, and record applications for 2021, we know even more students will find their passion for ocean research or ocean tech.
Canada should be a leader in the blue economy. Memorial can help make this happen, and working with our academic and industry partners, we are on track to do just that.
Memorial is a partner in the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) with Dalhousie and the University of Prince Edward Island, a $220-million collaborative research initiative aimed at harnessing the vast potential of the world’s oceans. OFI is converting research findings into meaningful information for policy makers, industries and communities, particularly related to the blue economy and achieving Canada’s goal of net zero by 2050.
Memorial is also part of Canada’s Oceans Supercluster, a private-sector-led partnership using innovation and commercialization to drive sustainable economic growth and modernization across Canada’s ocean sectors.
All this is research – and more – is being done at Memorial, research that reflects our university’s responsiveness to emerging industries that are important to Newfoundland and Labrador.