The Government of Canada has announced the official opening of its new Facility for Intelligent Marine Systems (FIMS), to support scientists pursuing ocean research using uncrewed surface and underwater data collection platforms.
Renovations to the building that houses FIMS took place over four years, with a total project investment of almost $25 million (approx. US$18.3m).
Located on the campus of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), Canada’s largest ocean research facility, FIMS is a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Department of National Defence (DND) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
“Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a world-leader in ocean science,” said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
“With the official opening of the Facility for Intelligent Marine Systems we are expanding our ocean research capacity through state-of-the-art equipment.”
“This will also allow for greater collaboration between our scientists and researchers, along with those from Natural Resources Canada and the Department of National Defence.”
The Facility for Intelligent Marine Systems can accommodate 45 to 50 researchers and employees from its connected institutions, and is the first collaborative science facility of its kind on Canada’s East Coast.
