By Dyllan Furness, Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation
Tampa Bay has long been a hub for marine science, and a new grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to strengthen its role as a leader in the ocean economy.
The University of South Florida and six organizations from across the country, including several in Tampa Bay, have been selected for a $13.9 million grant from the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program to tackle critical challenges impacting our ocean, coastal communities and economy through an innovative accelerator program.
Called The Continuum, the program led by Tampa Bay Wave and SeaWorthy Collective is designed to promote the commercialization of blue-tech solutions, drive advancements in ocean resilience, reduce negative environmental impacts, and stimulate economic growth. Other participating organizations include Braid Theory, Ocean Exchange, St. Pete Innovation District and World Ocean Council.
“The Continuum represents a pivotal moment for BlueTech innovation, bringing together a network of visionaries to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges of our time,” said Sylvia Thomas, senior vice president for Research & Innovation at USF. “This is a bold step forward in addressing ocean resilience and innovation through this transformative collaboration.”
Steve Murawski, a research professor and St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Peter R. Betzer Endowed Chair at the USF College of Marine Science, will spearhead the university’s involvement in the partnership. By providing access to the College of Marine Science’s labs and research vessels, as well as offering training modules in various technologies, Murawski will help entrepreneurs, scientists and marine-resource managers gain real-world experience in the blue economy.
“The blue economy supports thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic activity in the Tampa Bay area alone,” Murawski said. “This partnership will allow us to further promote the development of this critical industry not only in Tampa Bay, but also across the country.”
Over four years, this $13.9 million grant will be used to establish a network of business accelerators and commercialization programs, fostering hundreds of startups focused on solving challenges related to the environment. These participating organizations will leverage their collective programs, expertise, and networks to accelerate the deployment of data-driven ocean economy solutions, ensuring the United States remains a global leader in technology innovation and economic growth.
“As recent hurricanes demonstrated, communities across the Tampa Bay area must be better prepared for and adapt to costly and extreme events,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. “This public-private partnership will benefit from the world-class marine scientists at USF St. Pete and the St. Petersburg Innovation District to bring ocean-based resilience solutions to the market.”
Operating on a national scale, The Continuum will build on resilience programs in Florida while supporting startups through partners in California, the Great Lakes, the Gulf Coast, New Jersey, the Chesapeake region and the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation that serve as test beds for demonstrations. This broad geographic reach ensures that regional challenges are addressed with an interconnected approach that strengthens the capacity for national innovation.
“At the College of Marine Science, we’re committed to educating and training the next generation of leaders in marine science and the blue economy,” said Tom Frazer, dean of the College of Marine Science. “We’re proud to support workforce development with our partners in The Continuum, and pleased to participate in this innovative accelerator program.”
The Continuum is an extension of the BlueTech|X Accelerator launched in February 2024, and represents the third such program through which USF has partnered with Tampa Bay Wave. The other programs include the FinTech|X Accelerator and HealthTech|X Accelerator.
Dyllan Furness is director of communications for the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation. This piece was originally published at https://www.usf.edu/marine-science/news/2024/usf-and-partners-launch-innovative-accelerator-program-to-grow-the-marine-economy.aspx. Banner image: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spanning Tampa Bay. (iStockphoto image)
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