Challenge

The Marine Institute, through its innovation hub The Launch, set out to establish a Subsea Centre of Excellence (CoE) to combine advanced subsea technologies with collaborative frameworks that support both ocean health and economic growth across Canada’s coasts. Key challenges included the integration of modern subsea assets, evaluating new technologies, and developing a sustainable collaborative and commercial operating model.

Strategy

The initiative was structured around three focus areas:

• Planning and installation of subsea assets within a predefined “Subsea Sandbox” water lot
• Evaluation and integration of existing and emerging technologies
• Advancement of collaboration opportunities and a commercial operating framework

Action

Angler Solutions supported the Marine Institute through:

• Subsea asset installation – developing the overall installation strategy, contracting vessels and other requirements, and providing project management, coordination, and oversight of installation activities
• Technology implementation – evaluating existing and emerging subsea technologies, and supporting the integration of newly acquired autonomous vehicles and associated systems
• Stakeholder engagement – leading outreach and collaboration with local, regional, and international stakeholders including industry, government, regulators, certifying authorities, and academic institutions
• Operating model development – contributing to the design of a commercial framework to guide long-term CoE operations

Outcome

The project established the foundation for the Subsea CoE, creating a calibrated, digitally connected “living lab” environment for technology development, testing, validation, and demonstration. This environment now supports applied research and commercialization of innovative subsea technologies and solutions, positioning the Marine Institute and The Launch as leaders in advancing ocean innovation.