President's Message

Welcome to the Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) website.

Launched in 2007, ONC was created by the University of Victoria to support and promote the unique research programs of the world-leading NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS ocean networks, which together make up the ONC Observatory. The Observatory is a national research facility, led by the University of Victoria on behalf of a pan-Canadian consortium of universities and partner organizations.

By bringing power and the internet to the ocean, the Observatory networks are transformative in enabling researchers world-wide to study and understand ocean events and processes in ways not previously possible. All this, at a time when the oceans are critical to our national and global futures.

ONC’s mandate is to enable research excellence and to generate benefits for Canada by informing public policy, creating commercial opportunity and promoting public education and engagement.

The innovative technology development required for the design, build and operation of the Observatory networks led to the addition of the ONC Centre for Enterprise and Engagement (ONCCEE) in 2009 as a federal centre of excellence for commercialization and research. ONC’s support of its international user community depends on our exceptionally talented team of scientific, technical and administrative staff. We also benefit greatly from the wise counsel of a very experienced Board of Directors drawn from senior positions in academia, government and the private sector.

We are indebted to our principal funding agencies, especially the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, for sharing and supporting the vision to create this unique facility.

Again, welcome to the exciting world of ONC. 

Martin Taylor

President and CEO