Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The partnership between Camosun College and Ocean Rodeo will result in a completely new OEM product brought to the market. The pump will increase Ocean Rodeos revenue being relatively cheap to produce and transport compared to the industry standard pump. The broad amount of markets that the pump can be sold in will display Ocean Rodeo across a multitude of outdoor sporting markets potentially boosting dry suit sales. The innovation can help Ocean Rodeo break into the European market allowing for more exports to sold and ultimately result in more Canadians being employed both selling and working on innovative products and intellectual property.*Ocean Rodeo was founded in 2001 as a watersports/surface suit division of Whites Manufacturing Ltd, a well established diving drysuit business in Victoria BC. At the the time the concept of a watersport drysuit barely existed. Over the past 16 years, Ocean Rodeo has established a name synonymous with watersport drysuit design and development, and are also recognised as leader in the design and manufacturing of kiteboarding components and equipment. Ocean Rodeo Pioneered kiteboarding safety components such as the push away release system, and more recently the back line trim control bar.*Ocean Rodeo currently employs a team of 17 people in Victoria BC, up from 8 employees in 2015, and anticipates further increase in employees for 2018 and 2019. The company owns 3 patents with 14 other applications patent pending. Exploitation of IP is a significant part of the growth strategy for Ocean Rodeo, and a significant component of Ocean Rodeo's goals of maintaining its place as the internationally recognized innovative leader within the industry. Ocean Rodeo currently exports its products to 40 countries around the world with 70% of its revenue coming from export markets.*