Moving maritime clusters to the next level: Canada's Ocean Supercluster initiative

Abstract

This brief discussion paper reviews Canada's Ocean Supercluster strategy, launched by the Canadian Federal government in early 2018. It explains what Canada's Ocean Supercluster strategy is, why it matters for innovation and economic development, and discusses the extent to which the strategy is likely to support and strengthen the knowledge-based ocean economy in Canada. It raises a number of questions which should form the basis of a research agenda destined to better understand and improve the effectiveness of policies aimed at supporting maritime innovation, the development of coastal regions, and economic development more generally.