Tuesday January 20, 2026 | PRINCE RUPERT, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Building on Look West commitments, three dual-use technology businesses are testing new tools that can support Canada’s defence priorities while helping cut emissions, improve safety and support jobs in northern communities.
Supported by the Integrated Marketplaces initiative, delivered by Innovate BC, Nuport Robotics, Open Ocean Robotics and Hydra Energy are testing their technologies at the Port of Prince Rupert. Combined, the projects are worth more than $1.7 million.
- Nuport Robotics has installed an emissions data-collection system on a short-haul truck to help reduce emissions, improve how trucks move goods and support future use of the technology
- Open Ocean Robotics will test a new zero-emission uncrewed vessel at the Port of Prince Rupert to collect ocean and marine data safely and sustainably
- Hydra Energy is deploying a hydrogen-fuelling station and testing its zero- and low-emission vehicles
“Companies like Nuport Robotics, Open Ocean Robotics and Hydra Energy are showing the world what Canadian innovation can achieve,” says Rick Glumac, BC Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies.
“By testing cutting-edge clean technologies in Prince Rupert, we’re proving that our homegrown tech solutions can reduce emissions, improve safety and strengthen our economy,” says Glumac.
Making ports safer:
“B.C. is supporting domestic companies to test dual-use technologies that make our ports safer, cleaner and more competitive while strengthening Canada’s sovereignty and defence capabilities,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth.
“These new data tools will reduce emissions and promote clean transportation, critical goals for our environment and communities, while delivering safer port operations using made-in-B.C. technology,” said Kahlon today.
“This initiative is part of our Look West plan to deliver jobs and opportunities while building a more independent economy,” he said.
Smarter trucking:
Emissions will be reduced with smarter trucking technology.
Nuport Robotics is leading a $306,000 project that will install a data-acquisition system on a short-haul truck at the port. The system will:
- help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions
- de-risk deployment of the technology
- give port users better data to improve productivity, competitiveness
Port safety improvements:
Port safety will be improved with zero-emission ocean monitoring.
The port of Prince Rupert will test Open Ocean Robotics’ DataXplorer Gen 2 uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in a $409,000 project. This autonomous zero-emission vessel will:
- improve safety by monitoring conditions without putting people on the water
- operate more sustainably than traditional vessels
- collect and manage ocean and marine data for port users
“The Prince Rupert Port Authority Testbed provides a valuable real-world environment to demonstrate how persistent, uncrewed surface vehicles can support safer, more sustainable port and coastal operations,” said Julie Angus, co-founder and CEO, Open Ocean Robotics.
“Through Innovate BC‘s Integrated Marketplace, we are able to validate our technology alongside public-sector partners, accelerating the adoption of low-emission, ocean-monitoring solutions in ports,” says Angus.
“Testing these innovative technologies advances our efforts to make gateway operations safer and more efficient, both on water and land. The findings will help inform our strategies to reduce the overall impacts of port activity,” says Kurt Slocombe, interim president, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Hydrogen vehicles:
Emissions will be lowered by using hydrogen, low- and zero-emission vehicles.
A $1-million project led by the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Hydra Energy will develop a hydrogen-fuelling station and test zero- and low-emission vehicles to support decarbonization and sustainability efforts within the port’s operations. These vehicles will support deliveries that include short-haul, local and long-haul.
“This collaboration, supported by Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace, highlights the vital role of hydrogen in decarbonizing heavy-duty transport,” said Badr Abduljawad, co-founder and chief innovation officer, Hydra Energy. “Together with the Prince Rupert Port Authority and other key project partners, Hydra has been awarded a valuable opportunity to demonstrate our hydrogen-as-a-service model. This initiative will integrate our hydrogen-diesel co-combustion technology with dedicated hydrogen-refuelling infrastructure, helping showcase Hydra’s capabilities in real-world port operations and the importance of transition technologies on the path to cleaner mobility.”
Created by the Government of B.C. in partnership with Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) in 2023 and delivered by Innovate BC, the Integrated Marketplace helps B.C. companies test, deploy and scale their innovations while de-risking technology adoption for partnering industry customers.
Part of the Look West plan:
These projects support the Province’s Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines BC’s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy.
It includes delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sector, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.
Sovereignty and defence:
Technologies tested in northern BC can also strengthen Canada’s sovereignty and defence capabilities.
Surface vessels (USVs) without crews have potential applications for the coast guard and navy, while innovations from Nuport Robotics and Hydra Energy can improve logistics and supply-chain efficiency while supporting both commercial and defence operations.
“B.C. has the talent and innovation that the world needs,” says Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates how new data-driven tools and clean-technology solutions can make a difference, not only in reducing emissions but also in shaping the future of sustainable transportation. PacifiCan is committed to ensuring that BC businesses have the resources they need to grow and contribute to one strong Canadian economy,” says Robertson.
Integrated Marketplace:
“British Columbia is a proven leader in clean transportation and energy innovation, and the Integrated Marketplace is strengthening that standing by supporting B.C. companies to deploy solutions that transform critical industries and reduce emissions,” says Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate BC.
“By enabling the deployment of technologies in complex, high-impact environments like ports, the Integrated Marketplace is helping companies test their solutions, scale faster and bring made-in-B.C. innovations to new markets, driving both local prosperity and positive global change,” says Cowan.
BC’s investment in the Integrated Marketplace includes as much as $41.5 million from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth and $11.7 million from the Government of Canada through PacifiCan.
The Integrated Marketplace is a demand-driven platform to test, deploy and scale made-in-B.C. innovation, while de-risking technology adoption for key industries in the province.
