Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is a not-for-profit society, established by the University of Victoria in 2007, to build and sustain Canada’s leadership in ocean science and technology through the VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada cabled ocean observatories. ONC is governed by a board of directors, made up of respected leaders from the academic, government and private sectors. The mandate of ONC is to develop the two observatories as national research facilities, and to support applications of the research for the benefit of Canadians by: informing ocean-related public policy, creating commercial opportunities, and promoting public engagement. To advance its commercial and outreach goals, ONC has developed the ONC Centre for Enterprise and Engagement (ONCCEE) that is funded as a federal centre of excellence in commercialization and research.