Oil Spill Response Challenge
Spur the development of innovative and rapidly deployable solutions in diverse Canadian aquatic environments
Introduction
Transcript
Canada’s abundant lakes, rivers, and coastlines need to be kept clean for our health, our ecosystems, our economy and our future.
Oil spills put the health of our communities, coasts, and ecosystems at risk.
Canada already has one of the strongest marine safety systems in the world, but we must become even better at detecting and responding to oil spills.
That’s why Natural Resources Canada is launching the $10 million Oil Spill Response Challenge.
We are looking for innovative solutions to:
- detect oil spills and support quick action
- respond to oil spills more effectively to improve environmental recovery
Do you have an idea that could improve oil spill response in Canada?
You could receive up to $1.3 million to develop your solution and the opportunity to compete for a grand prize of $2 million.
Visit impact.canada.ca to learn more and apply.
Investing in Innovative Oil Spill Response Technologies
The Government of Canada is calling on innovators to develop solutions to help protect and preserve Canada’s natural heritage and communities from the devastating impacts of oil spills. If you work in the area of oil spill detection, oil spill recovery or other fields such as science and engineering, biochemistry, data analytics, remote sensing and robotics, and have a passion about protecting the environment, the Oil Spill Response Challenge may be for you!
We are looking for innovators to advance innovative and rapidly deployable oil spill response solutions to effectively improve response time and/or increase recovery of oil spilt in diverse Canadian aquatic environments when compared against conventional technology. With the right idea and knowledge on how to get there, you could be awarded up to $1.3M to develop and test your prototype. The grand prize winner will then receive an additional $2M to continue to commercialise their technology!
Let’s Keep It Clean!
More than 4 million barrels of oil are moved through Canada every day by various means, including cargo ship, rail, transport truck and pipeline. While Canada has a world-leading marine safety system that ensures we can respond quickly to spills in Canadian waters, oil spills remain a risk. Even a relatively small oil spill can have devastating effects on surrounding ecosystems, wildlife, and communities, especially coastal and Indigenous communities.
With over 240,000km of coastline and 890,000km2 of freshwater spread across the nation, and with particularly challenging weather and geographical conditions, Canada needs oil spill response solutions suited to our diverse aquatic environments. It is crucial to detect and respond quickly and effectively to reduce the impact on oil spilt in freshwater, marine, Arctic, and remote environments. Building on Canada’s strong marine safety system, the Government of Canada is calling upon innovators to deliver game-changing solutions that effectively decrease response time and/or increase environmental recovery in diverse Canadian aquatic environments when compared against conventional technology.
To that end, Natural Resources Canada is investing in the expansion of its oil spill detection and recovery solutions by allocating up to $10M to accelerate the development of technologies that improve the detection of oil spills in real time and expedites recovery.
The Challenge will spark new ideas and engage diverse perspectives to spur the development of innovative and rapidly deployable solutions that improve oil spill response in diverse Canadian aquatic environments. The Detection Stream targets development of solutions that improve response time by improving detection time and data availability to inform and expedite emergency response measures. The Recovery Stream targets solutions that increase recovery of oil spilt in water.
Are you an innovator passionate about protecting the environment? Do you think your expertise can help solve this problem? Are you interested in improving the capabilities and testing the effectiveness of oil detection and cleanup technologies?
If so, we invite you to apply to the Oil Spill Response Challenge and have the opportunity to receive support for the development of your oil spill response technologies.
Challenge Streams
Stream A: Detection
Solutions that improve the timeliness of oil spill detection, collection, consolidation and analysis of data to support incident command. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Remote sensing technologies – from satellites to autonomous vehicles – that collect data on oil spill characteristics and locations.
- AI, modelling, and data analytics software that consolidates data points to inform decisions related to response operations and improve response outcomes.
Stream B: Recovery
Environmentally sustainable solutions that minimize the amount of oil that persists in aquatic environments following an incident and fosters environmental recovery.
Solutions include technologies that can be deployed to recover oil to the fullest extent, supporting oil spill emergency response operations.
The Challenge
1. Overview
The Oil Spill Response Challenge will advance innovative and rapidly deployable solutions to effectively detect oil spills and improve response time or to increase the oil spill recovery rate when compared against conventional tools in diverse Canadian aquatic environments. The Challenge is important to expand the suite of available oil spill response technologies for use in Canadian marine and freshwater environments, which supports Canada Energy Regulator recommendations.
It is mobilising innovators to spur the rapid development and deployment of new oil spill response technologies.
2. Challenge Objectives & Assessment Criteria
Natural Resources Canada is calling on innovators to submit applications for technology solutions that:
- Can improve oil spill response effectiveness: by reducing time elapsed to detect oil spilt in water and/or by increasing the recovery of oil spilt in water;
- Are innovative and disruptive to status quo: the design offers impactful solutions to oil spill detection and recovery compared to conventional approaches;
- Are applicable to the Canadian context: solutions that can be applied within the environments and conditions present across Canada, such as operating environment, oil type, challenging conditions, scalability;
- Improve our environment and community safety: reducing adverse environmental impacts and improving marine safety is a priority.
- Are ready to use: operational effectiveness and practicality of solution for end-users, including logistics and resource requirements. The deployment of the solution is safe, realistic and feasible;
- Have a strong plan to scale to market: innovators understand their market and have the partnerships and plan to scale their technology for deployment.
For more information on the assessment criteria, please see the Applicant Guide
3. Challenge Streams
Stream 1: Technologies that Improve Detection
Purpose: Accelerate the development of innovative solutions that reduce the amount of time elapsed between the start of an oil spill in fresh or saltwater and the time in which it is detected, decreased, and/or eliminated. The type and accuracy of oil spill-related data being collected and aggregated to inform spill response is significantly expanded.
Detection covers all technologies involved in the detection, collection and analysis of data to inform timely and evidence-based decision-making during an oil spill emergency response. For the detection stream, solutions are expected to achieve at least one of the following results:
- Real-time detection of an oil spill
- Collect / model oil spill data such as the spatial extent (breadth and depth) of the spill, estimate the magnitude of the release, the rate of release, and determine the composition of the spilled oil, salinity of water (for estuarine environments), or a combination of these capabilities
- Provide a data analytics solution to facilitate the aggregation, consolidation and analysis of data pertinent to an oil spill response such as weather data, oil spill data (as described above), and emergency response crew location
This could include, but is not limited to, technologies such as surface (i.e. satellite, aircraft, glider, other remote sensing technologies, etc.) and subsurface (i.e. autonomous or manned underwater vehicles, etc.), sensors, laboratory analytical methods transferrable to spill responders, AI, computer modelling, and data analytics products to aggregate data sets necessary to inform response during and after an oil spill.
Innovators are encouraged to consider adapting their technologies to overcome challenging situations that could impede detection, such as cloud cover, remote or difficult to access locations, and pipelines immersed in water.
Stream 2: Technologies that Improve Recovery
Purpose: Accelerate the development and deployment of innovative solutions that increase and expedite the recovery of oil spilt into Canada’s diverse aquatic environments.
Recovery covers the wide breadth of technologies that can be deployed to recover oil to the fullest extent possible thereby minimizing the amount of oil polluting aquatic environments. Solutions could include, but are not limited to, innovative adaptations to conventional containment and mechanical recovery technologies (e.g. skimmers, booms), chemical treatment, and alternative response measures (e.g. spill treating agents, herders, in-situ burning, surface washing agents, advanced sorbents) and biodegradation treatments suitable for marine and freshwater environments.
Innovators are encouraged to consider adapting their technologies to overcome challenging situations that could affect recovery operations, such as oil type (light, medium, heavy), salinity of water, turbulence, immersed or sunken oil, ice or icy waters and remote locations.
4. Challenge Application
The Oil Spill Response Challenge is open to innovators that are commercial and non-commercial organizations and individuals, registered to do business in Canada.
Specifically, eligible applicants to the Challenge include the following:
- Businesses or other for-profit organizations;
- Not-for-profit organizations;
- Indigenous organizations and groups located in Canada;
- Post-secondary/academic institutions;
- Individual or group of individuals;
- International individuals and entities.*
* Must have, or partner with, a legal entity in Canada.
Process & Prizes
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Stage 1 – Application Intake - Proposed Concept
March 9, 2022
Applicants with a design for an innovative oil spill response solution to improve detection or the rate of recovery when compared to conventional technologies are invited to apply to the Challenge.
The deadline to apply is June 1, 2022, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
At this stage, applicants are competing to receive up to $300,000 and the chance to become a Semi-Finalist to move onto Stage 2. Applications satisfying all selection criteria will undergo a technical evaluation.
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Stage 2 – Incubation and Development of Prototypes
Summer 2022
Up to 10 semi-finalists selected at the end of Stage 1 will receive up to $300,000 for the development of their technology. These Semi-Finalists will have one year to develop their prototype.
At this stage, Semi-Finalists will be competing to receive up to $1M and the chance to become a Finalist in Stage 3 of the Challenge. Other non-monetary benefits may be offered to participants at this stage.
Eligible teams may be asked to provide a plan for continued technology development and commercialisation.
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Stage 3 - Early-Stage Demonstration
Fall 2023
Up to 5 finalists whose prototypes showed the most promise in Stage 2 will be selected to move on to Stage 3. At this stage, finalists will have one year to accelerate and scale up their solutions and conduct an early-stage demonstration. Participants will be required to rigorously test and evaluate the effectiveness of their solutions and report on their results. Additional guidance will be provided to selected Finalists prior to the start of Stage 3. Finalists at this stage are competing to become the Grand Prize Winner, who will receive $2M in grant funding.
Eligible teams may be asked to provide their business plan for continued commercialisation and deployment. Other non-monetary benefits may be offered to participants at this stage.
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Grand Prize Winners Selected
Winter 2025
One Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the finalists and announced in Winter 2025.
Up to 10 Prizes of $300,000
Open to all eligible innovators submitting an application at Stage 1.
Up to 5 Prizes of $1,000,000
Open to all Semi-Finalists who reach Stage 2 and meet associated program requirements.
A Grand Prize of $2,000,000
Open to all Finalists who reach Stage 3 and meet associated program requirements.
Results
$2MAqua-Guard Spill Response Inc. has been selected as the winner of the Oil Spill Challenge!
Aqua-Guard Spill Response Incorporated’s proposed solution involves recovery module(s) that mechanically recover floating oil sheens with unprecedented high oil/water efficiency.
Finalists
These 5 finalists were selected from the semi-finalists and will move onto Stage 3.
Aqua-Guard Spill Response Inc.
Aqua-Guard Spill Response Incorporated’s proposed solution involves recovery module(s) that mechanically recover floating oil sheens with unprecedented high oil/water efficiency.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University’s proposed solution involves the development of a rapidly deployable system of surface and underwater robotic vehicles with state-of-the-art sensors, profiling systems, and samplers to inform oil spill decision-making and response.
LGM Canada Corp.
LGM Canada’s proposed solution involves enhancing mechanical recovery with an oil boom that has a permeable skirt treated with a coating to block oil but pass water thereby increasing tow speeds and reducing tow forces.
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia’s proposed solution involves a mobile system that integrates nano/micro bubble gas flotation with adsorption, for environmentally friendly and quick oil recovery from oily wastewater collected from oil spill response.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto’s proposed solution involves a system that allows for in-situ treatment of decanted water stored in response vessels to increase storage capacity and speed oil spill response.
Semi-finalists
These 10 semi-finalists were selected from a pool of 87 submissions:
Aqua-Guard Spill Response Inc.
Aqua-Guard Spill Response Incorporated’s proposed solution involves recovery module(s) that mechanically recover floating oil sheens with unprecedented high oil/water efficiency.
Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative
Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative’s proposed solution involves a highly efficient, modular oil skimming system that can be easily packed into totes and transported by First Nations community responders for fast response to spills in coastal waters.
Concordia University
Concordia University’s proposed solution involves the use of multifunction surface washing agents as an efficient and scalable solution for enhanced oil spill response on Canadian shorelines.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University’s proposed solution involves the development of a rapidly deployable system of surface and underwater robotic vehicles with state-of-the-art sensors, profiling systems, and samplers to inform oil spill decision-making and response.
LGM Canada Corp.
LGM Canada’s proposed solution involves enhancing mechanical recovery with an oil boom that has a permeable skirt treated with a coating to block oil but pass water thereby increasing tow speeds and reducing tow forces.
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society’s proposed solution involves the detection and systematic mapping of anomalies, such as oil and other contaminants, through the use of water based induced polarization.
Tactical Electronics
Tactical Electronics’ proposed solution involves an innovative remotely operated surface vehicle (ROSV) capable of effectively detecting, characterizing, tracking, and ultimately expediting the recovery of oil spills in Canada's diverse aquatic environments.
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba’s proposed solution involves the use of a drone to fly an advanced suite of sensors over a potential spill region, to detect signs of oil by sensing differences between uncontaminated and contaminated sea ice.
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia’s proposed solution involves a mobile system that integrates nano/micro bubble gas flotation with adsorption, for environmentally friendly and quick oil recovery from oily wastewater collected from oil spill response.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto’s proposed solution involves a system that allows for in-situ treatment of decanted water stored in response vessels to increase storage capacity and speed oil spill response.
Stay connected
Send us your questions at: energyinnovation-innovationenergetique@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Join the conversation using: #ImpactCanada #OilSpillResponse #OSRChallenge #CleanTech/TechPropre #STEM/STIM
Challenge details
Who can apply
Eligible applicants to the Challenge include the following:
- For-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies, industry associations and research centres
- Indigenous organizations and groups located in Canada
- Post-secondary/academic institutions
- Individual or groups that are recognized legal entities
- International individuals and entities*
*Must have, or partner with, a legal entity in Canada.
Prizes
- Ten semi-finalists will be selected to receive up to $300,000 each to support the development of their technology prototype
- Five finalists with the top solutions will be selected for up to an additional $1 million each to continue to scale and demonstrate their technology
- $2 million Grand Prize will be given to the team with the best demonstrated technology
Key Dates
- March 9, 2022: Applications Open
- June 1, 2022: Deadline to apply
- Summer 2022: Selection of ten semi-finalists
Important Resources
Last modified: 2025-03-07