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Tech Adoption

Integrated Marketplace: COAST Innovation Challenge

Delivered through Innovate BC's Integrated Marketplace in partnership with Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), the Innovation Challenge is a high impact offering to accelerate the commercialization of marine energy technologies.

The Innovation Challenge supports B.C. innovators to demonstrate technologies that can support the Canadian Coast Guard's objective of transitioning remote, land-based operational sites along the coast of British Columbia from dependence on diesel generator power to integrated energy systems and renewable energy. This challenge creates a pilot opportunity for rapidly deployable, modular and scalable technologies focusing on energy generation from renewable sources; energy management and storage to support capacity increases / demand management; and energy resilience in the marine space where it might otherwise be difficult to secure a pilot opportunity.

Successful applicants can receive up to the lesser of $100,000 or 50% of Eligible Project Costs will be awarded to Applicants successful in the competition. 

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Eligible Applicants

To be eligible, applicants must: 

  • be duly organized and validly existing under the provincial or federal laws of Canada;
  • be in good standing with respect to all filings required by the governing authority having jurisdiction over the affairs of the Challenge Participant; and
  • be actively doing business in British Columbia.* 

The Challenge Participant must have met the foregoing criteria for at least 12 months prior to participating in the Challenge, unless a shorter timeframe has been agreed to by Innovate BC in writing.  

*Actively doing business in British Columbia is defined as: 

  • All Challenge Participant staff are residents of BC and the Challenge Participant declares BC as its province of residence for tax purposes;
  • 50% or more of the Challenge Participant’s staff are in BC and claim BC as their province of residence for tax purposes; or
  • the Challenge Participant is committed to establishing a physical location in BC and having staff located in BC who claim the province as their primary residence for tax purposes within the next 12 months.  

Additionally, the Challenge Participant, to the best of their knowledge, is in compliance with all requirements under the Employment Standards Act and Workers Compensation Act, including but not limited to with respect to workers’ compensation coverage.  

The following applicant types are eligible for this Challenge: 

  1. Renewable energy generation enterprises. 
  2. Energy management and storage enterprises. 

Ineligible Applicants

The following applicants are ineligible for this Challenge: 

  • Applicants operating outside of B.C.
  • Unlicensed or unregistered enterprises
  • Any other business that does not fall within the scope of eligible applicants in this Program Guide 

Eligible Expenses and Activities

Decarbonization Technologies

This Challenge supports companies moving towards commercialization by providing the opportunity to test and demonstrate their technology against a real-world problem: the decarbonization of land-based operations in coastal remote areas. These technologies or how they are being applied should be new to Canada, B.C., or a region. The goal is to enhance renewable energy generation and increase the resilience of energy management and storage, while still meeting the operational needs of these unique geographic locations. 

This Challenge aims to support the development of technologies that can generate, manage, store, and deploy energy in remote, land-based operations along the coast through decarbonization technologies. 

Decarbonization technologies for this Challenge means: 

  • Technology that generates energy through renewable sources; 
  • Technology used to store and manage energy; and
  • Technology that improves the efficiency and/or resilience of energy systems. 

Project Scope 

Projects that are at a Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-7 will be considered with the expectation that the technology will advance one TRL upon completion of project activities.  

Eligible Technology Examples

Here are some examples of technology that may be eligible for funding if they are also new to Canada, B.C., or a region, or if they are innovative in how they are being applied.

  • Energy generation from renewable sources. Technologies that generate energy from renewable sources, for example:
    • Wave energy generation;
    • Tidal energy generation;
    • On- and off-shore wind generation; and
    • Solar energy generation.
  • Energy management and storage technologies. Technologies that manage and store energy, for example:
    • Batteries and battery storage systems;
    • Energy dashboards;
    • Microgrid controllers.
  • Other technologies:
    • Existing technologies, such as those listed above, but with significantly novel features or functionalities; and
    • Existing technologies, such as those listed above, but combined in a way that is novel.

Eligible Costs 

The following costs are eligible: 

  • Salaries and benefits, including administrative labour related to the Eligible Project
  • Professional and administrative fees related to obtaining and maintaining an Intellectual Property Right and drafting an Intellectual Property Strategy
  • Field testing services 
  • Licence fees and permits 
  • Supplies and equipment, including the costs to purchase, rent, fabricate and install supplies and equipment 
  • Purchase, installation, repair, upgrade, testing and commissioning of equipment, materials and products, including diagnostic and testing tools and instruments 
  • Laboratory and field supplies and materials 
  • Shipping costs, including customs costs 
  • Consumables (i.e., items used up completely during the project such as motor oil, lubricants, transmission fluids) 
  • Data collection services, including processing, analysis and management 
  • Statutory training, regulatory specified training (e.g., environment, health and safety) and associated certification costs as a result of a new product including training for the testbed PM/ product manager  
  • Capital items specifically required for the delivery of the Eligible Project, including data collection equipment, prototypes, pilot plants or demonstration facilities, if they have no residual value beyond the Period of Funding, as determined by Recognized Accounting Standards 

Ineligible Expenses and Activities

Before you apply, check that the technology and costs you want reimbursed by the Challenge are not ineligible. The lists below are not exhaustive, and Applicants are encouraged to contact Innovate BC to confirm if a technology and/or expense is eligible. Contact: integratedmarkets@innovatebc.ca. 

Ineligible Costs

The following costs are not eligible: 

  • Leasing costs
  • BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub participant fees
  • General overhead costs, including operating costs related to general maintenance and repairs, utilities and telecommunications
  • Costs to decommission a Funded Project
  • Capital costs associated with ongoing scientific or technical activities
  • Fees and expenses incurred in relation marketing, communications and business development work
  • Contingency fees 
  • Legal, financing fees and costs 
  • Costs associated with the subsequent technology diffusion 
  • Travel 
  • Costs to apply for certifications; data collection in pursuit of these, in alignment with project objectives and KPI’s, is eligible. 
  • Modifications or upgrades to existing infrastructure
  • Insurance 
  • Existing digital collections and background IP, and the costs associated with their development or access
  • Costs of ongoing activities
  • Extended warranties on equipment, electronics, or technology purchases 
  • Purchases made before application is approved, or expenses after the project completion date unless consent is received from the Challenge
  • GST on the technology purchase
  • Government lobbying 

Successful Applicants will be required to pay a $10,000 fee to participate in the Hub, and this cost is ineligible under Innovate BC funding. 

Common Sector Technologies

In addition to the technologies listed as ineligible above, common or ‘off the shelf’ technology products that would not be considered unique or new technology because they are already widely used in their specific sector will not be eligible, unless they are applied in a novel or innovative way as part of your technology system. 

However, do apply if the technology you want to deploy offers significantly novel features or functionalities, or if it is being combined with other technologies in a novel way, that innovatively addresses the CCG's particular challenges and restrictions. 

  • November 10, 2025: Application intake opens
  • December 31, 2025: Application intake closes
  • Applications will be reviewed in January 2026 with an announcement to come in February 2026

Applicants for all technology categories will be required to submit a funding application through the SurveyMonkey Apply application portal during the call period (November 10 – December 31, 2025). All applicants will be required to provide: 

  • Details regarding their technology / innovation, required maintenance and schedules, how it applies to the challenge, its TRL, and its market audience;
  • A project plan, including KPIs, metrics, and a timeline with identified milestones for completion;
  • Budget estimate(s) to substantiate the funding request amount and project timeline(s);
  • An estimate of the emissions that can be avoided by using the technology; and
  • Confirmation of the proposed timeline(s) once an application is approved. The latest acceptable date for beginning of project is May 1, 2026. Projects should not exceed a 12-month period.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines