The global Blue Economy presents a massive $6+ trillion opportunity, yet BlueTech innovators face unique challenges. Navigating the 'Valley of Death' is particularly daunting, especially given the harsh and expensive nature of working in and on water. To address these challenges and foster entrepreneurship, we established Blue Innovation Labs, a collaborative hub for the entire BlueTech ecosystem. Here, startups, established companies, academia, NGOs, and government agencies can connect, access resources, get their technology in the ocean to pilot and advance to commercialization.
For high-growth early stage startups, we offer the BLUE Incubator Program. This intensive program provides bespoke mentorship, access to funding, and dedicated experienced support to accelerate their journey from catalyst to commercialization. By fostering an inclusive ecosystem, empowering underserved entrepreneurs, and supporting transitioning Veterans, we are driving innovation and creating a more assessable and sustainable future for the Blue Economy. Next Cohort applications open early Q4.
In Summary:
- Blue Innovation Labs is developing an ocean access collaborative facility for the entire BlueTech community.
- Blue Incubator is a bespoke program within the Labs exclusively for early stage high growth startups (learn more).
Women In BlueTech
A Cross-Atlantic Quarterly Collaboration
TOOL/Oslo and BLUE/Boston
Q2 Event on Wednesday June 25th, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST for a virtual event celebrating and empowering Women in BlueTech.
New JV Innovation Initiative
Blue Sea Farms
Blue Sea Farms is an initiative of Blue Innovation Labs & Alga Seaweed to pioneer a novel patented near-shore seaweed processing technology and a towable digitzed farming system.
Blue Sea Farms was selected for Stage 1 of the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric NOAA.
Harmony Desalting developing novel desalination technology
Pilot on Boston Harbor
Founder Quantum Wei (on right) and some of the Massachusetts based Harmony Desalting Team showing their prototype being piloted at the historic Fitzgerald Shipyard, home to Blue Innovation Labs
Can desalination quench agriculture's thirst?
Learn more about Harmony Desalting and another upcoming pilot to address salty groundwater.
MassVentures visit
MassVentures visit
Team Harmony Desalting seen here with Priya Yadav from MassVentures, an early investor in this impactful and potentially game changing technology for water.
Congratulations to 13 Mari and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines!
(Conceptual diagram of an composite element by 13 Mari)
InnovateMass/MassCEC funds testing
13 Mari of the Blue Incubator and the BX2 Cohort, received funding through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's InnovationMass program to prototype and pilot. Here in September 2024, 13 Mari Founder & CEO Krassi Fotev gives a reporting tour to the MassCEC Team. The InnovateMass funded pilot produced significant validation data.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines invests in 13 Mari
From left: MOL Dry Bulk Business Strategy Division General Manager Shinichi Asahina; 13 Mari Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Gaston Petrocelli; MOL Deputy Vice President Hirofumi Kamata; and 13 Mari Founder and Chief Executive Officer Krassimir Fotev
The ripple-shaped Flowsmart element developed by 13 Mari uses technology, which has been incorporated into the shape of aircraft wings and as aero parts for automobiles, and it is based on the concept of controlling the flow of water near the hull to reduce drag and bring out the original performance of the vessel. The company aims to improve the fuel efficiency of vessels and achieve stable navigation.
BLUEiQ whale protection work highlighted in the Boston Globe
BLUEiQ was interviewed recently by the Boston Globe for their work building tools to use sound to help map the ocean and to save whales! Read the Boston Globe article here.
BLUEiQ, a women-owned business (WOB), creates multi-use passive acoustic sensing solutions to protect biodiversity, reduce effects of anthropogenic noise on marine life, and enhance ocean safety and security.
Creek Tides Energy and Power collaborates with University of Alaska at Fairbanks and SouthWest Research Institute for a $1.5 million marine energy research grant.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $1.5 million to two University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Center for Energy and Power projects to advance marine energy research and education.
with an award of $1 million, aims to advance a reactive reversible blade turbine, or RRBT. ACEP and its partners at Creek Tides Energy and Power and the Southwest Research Institute will develop and test the turbine at UAF’s Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site in Nenana.
“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with the private sector to develop a technology specifically for operating in frozen rivers and generating small scale electricity for off-grid applications in remote Alaska,” said Ben Loeffler, Pacific Marine Energy Center co-director at ACEP and the principal investigator of the project.
Full UAF press release here.
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scots underwater robotics pioneer.
More HonuWorx News:
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scots underwater robotics pioneer. A Scottish underwater robotics firm has received a seven-figure investment into its plans to revolutionize operations in the energy and security sectors. HonuWorx, based in Aberdeen, plans to dramatically slash costs and emissions for offshore repair and inspection work through its fleet of autonomous, all-electric submarines.
Blue Innovation Labs for a healthy and secure Blue Planet
Affiliations, Collaborations, Partners, and Sponsors
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