BlueTech Clusters: Engines of Innovation and Capital Across the Blue Economy

BlueTech clusters are collaborative ecosystems that unite ocean-focused startups, established companies, research institutions, universities, government entities, and investors around a shared goal: advancing innovation in the blue economy. By aligning access to capital, testbeds, research partnerships, and industry networks, these clusters help move ocean science and engineering out of the lab and into real-world applications. In doing so, they support economic growth and strengthen maritime industries.

The table below compares representative domestic and international BlueTech clusters, highlighting how these ecosystems vary in structure, scale, and strategic focus. While all five clusters serve a similar connective function, they differ in their key focus areas, reflecting regional priorities, industry composition, and policy environments. U.S. clusters, such as TMA BlueTech, Gulf Blue, and the New England Ocean Cluster tend to operate as regional, membership-driven networks with relatively  smaller but highly targeted funding pools, emphasizing applied innovation, industry engagement, and regional economic development. In contrast, international clusters such as Japan’s Marine Open Innovation Institute and France’s Pôle Mer Méditerranée benefit from stronger government backing, allowing them to mobilize significantly larger funding volumes and support long-term, large-scale research and development initiatives.

Together, these examples demonstrate the adaptability of the BlueTech cluster model. Some clusters prioritize defense, autonomy, and rapid deployment, while others focus on foundational research and long-horizon technological development. Collectively, they show how BlueTech clusters can be tailored to regional strengths while contributing to a global network working to advance ocean technology and the sustainable use of marine resources.