April 15, 2014
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development:
Province to Host International Oceans Conference
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to speak about the excitement that is building in the province’s ocean technology sector as we prepare to host OCEANS’14, which will be held in St. John’s this coming September.
Themed, Oceans: Where Challenge Becomes Opportunity, OCEANS’14 will provide an international platform for Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean technology sector. The conference will bring greater awareness to the province’s research and development in emerging technologies and extraordinary marine infrastructure, as well as bring attention to local leading-edge companies operating in the sector. A forum for scientists and business leaders to exchange their knowledge, OCEANS’14 is expected to attract over 1,200 delegates.
Mr. Speaker, OCEANS’14 is jointly sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Ocean Engineering Society, as well as the Marine Technology Society. Previous conferences have been hosted in California, Virginia, Hawaii, and Washington.
Our Government recognizes that our success in ocean technology is a result of strong collaboration among industry, academia and all levels of government. Newfoundland and Labrador is home to leading ocean technology education and training, cutting-edge research and development initiatives, and unique infrastructure.
Through Memorial University, Canada’s leading oceans research facility, we are privileged to have one of the most respected centers for marine learning and applied research, the largest flume tank in the world at the Marine Institute, and the leading national centre of excellence in cold ocean technologies and harsh environment operations at C-CORE.
Mr. Speaker, at last year’s conference in San Diego, the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development’s Ocean Technology Branch was awarded the prestigious Compass International Award. The award is presented for outstanding achievement in the advancement of ocean technology and is granted to organizations that have demonstrated exemplary contributions to the industry. I am very proud of our Ocean Technology Branch for being recognized in this manner.
As a government we are proud to be hosting OCEANS’14. I look forward to welcoming delegates so they can see firsthand the world-class capabilities we have in Newfoundland and Labrador and the extensive potential we have in the ocean technology sector.
Thank you.
2014 04 15 1:45 p.m.