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The Ocean Tech Hub of Southeastern New England

The Ocean Tech Hub (OTH) coalesces the decades-long investment, research and innovation in undersea robotics, automation, advanced materials, and composites, and catalyzes a rapid tech transfer and commercialization specialty in the ocean technology field. 
 
Southeastern New England (SENE) is primed to be a global leader in a nascent underwater industry cluster set to grow by over $295B in the next decade. SENE’s strengths in undersea technology, manufacturing, composites, and ocean engineering is an outgrowth of our location, strong defense industry, and history of marine science exploration. Leveraging the area’s growing expertise in computer simulation, data collection, and machine learning, OTH will support national security while developing dual-use opportunities for commercialization – rapidly scaling and growing a world-leading hub for undersea robotics and sensors, and positioning SENE as a global powerhouse in ocean technology.

The Ocean Tech Hub (OTH) is consortium-led initiative with a diverse and growing membership representing industry, labor, research, academia, associations, government and community partners based in the RI-Southeastern MA region of Southeastern New England. Through this strategic interstate effort, Consortium members commit to activating the ocean technology ecosystem to develop and deploy a technology-based, globally competitive Hub that addresses economic and national security needs for the United States.

Our vision is a Southeastern New England region where residents from all communities – especially in historically disadvantaged areas – see a viable pathway into sustaining careers, all small businesses see increased client or customer base, and where new jobs and new business comes online rapidly through commercialization of innovative Ocean Technologies.

Through this new program, the US Department of Commerce will invest $10 billion over five years to strengthen a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies thereby ensuring that the industries of the future—and their good jobs at all skill levels —start, grow, and remain in the United States both equitably and inclusively.

The OTH Consortium was formed in response to the National Tech Hubs Program which was enacted in May as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

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Consortium Members (to date)

  • RI Commerce Corporation
  • 401 Tech Bridge
  • Brown University
  • City of Providence
  • IBM
  • Infused Innovations
  • Jaia Robotics
  • New Bedford Ocean Cluster
  • RI AFL-CIO
  • Rhode Island College
  • RI Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • RI Department of Labor & Training
  • RI Marine Trades Association
  • Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
  • University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
  • University of Rhode Island

Additional Support from

  • New Bedford Research and Robotics
  • Accenture
  • Blue Engine Strategies and ADL Ventures | Maritime Tech Hub
  • Community College of Rhode Island
  • Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Deep Blue Composites
  • FM Global
  • Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
  • Herreshoff Marine Museum
  • Justice Assistance
  • Mass MEP
  • Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development
  • Mystic Aquarium
  • Office of the Governor of Rhode Island
  • Partnership for RI
  • Polaris MEP
  • Regent Craft
  • RI Food Policy Council
  • RI Manufacturing Association
  • SENEDIA
  • Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC)
  • Venterra Group

The OTH is located in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the entire State of Rhode Island as well as Southeastern Massachusetts (Bristol County), home to an estimated 1.67M residents and diverse cities such as Providence, Fall River and New Bedford. The OTH capitalizes on SENE’s unique geographic assets: Seven commercial ports, shallow coastal areas, close access to full ocean depths off the Northeastern U.S. Continental Shelf, and easy access to Boston and New York. This unique blend presents an opportune locale for innovations in ocean technology.

This dynamic region is home to internationally-recognized research institutions, a diverse private sector, nationally recognized K-12, post-secondary and workforce programs, critical industry supports like accelerators and innovation hubs, and associations and communities of practice targeted towards the ocean economy. This interactive Map shows the depth of regional assets and potential in ocean technology advancements.

Get Involved

The OTH Consortium seeks feedback from a diverse community of stakeholders across the region. Please share your vision and recommendations with the project team so we can best represent your interests.
Join the Ocean Tech Hub Initiative by taking the surveys related to our working sessions. We believe that your ideas, experiences, vision & voice is crucial to the success of Ocean Tech Hub.
PROVIDE FEEDBACK

Technology + Working Session

Wednesday, June 28, 2023 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM

Focused on the role of the private sector, help us identify companies that are needed to bring technology, capital, supply chain and workforce resources to define the Ocean Tech Hub. During this session, we will define the Ocean Tech Hub in business terms and market size/potential using the key technology focus areas: Robotics, Automation, Advanced Material Sciences and Climate Mitigation. With this focus and using a set of use cases as a starting point, participants will work to specify the role of the private sector, identifying companies that are needed to bring technology, capital, supply chain and workforce resources, and build on research and burgeoning ecosystem in this area. We are actively collecting responses since the completion of this session. Please provide your feedback below.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Ecosystem + Impact Session (Virtual)

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM

The Ocean Tech Hubs is an opportunity to add your voice to the conversation on how we can remove barriers and disparities so that everyone can benefit from this economic expansion. During this session, we will define the actions needed to ensure the Ocean Tech Hub will create good jobs for ALL.

Key Focus Areas:

  • How will the Ocean Tech Hub support access to the jobs generated from this effort, especially those that do not require college degrees, by underrepresented residents?
  • How will the region grow and evolve its STEM workforce, including pipelines from within the region itself and its under-served populations, to continue to meet the needs of companies and consortium partners’ workforce capacity?
  • How will we ensure the Ocean Tech Hub benefits ALL and keep the Tech Hub consortium accountable to its goals to reach under-served populations?
 
Take the survey below and register for the session to join the conversation.
DEI SURVEY
REGISTER

Guiding Principles

This program will invest directly in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to transform into globally competitive innovation centers in approximately 10 years while catalyzing the creation of good jobs for American workers at all skill levels, both equitably and inclusively.

  • All residents – especially those traditionally underserved – will benefit from the opportunity of this Tech Hub through good-paying jobs, increased and new access to technology, and general skill and wealth creation. 

  • OTH will be bolstered or led by a diversity of input and voices. Efforts will be made to increase access and benefit by all including enhanced wrap-around support (access to housing, childcare, etc.). 

  • At all times, we will collaborate and endeavor to lower barriers to entry – either through red-tape reduction (public or private) or additional scaffolding for those who require it in order to engage. 

  • All efforts are in service of rapid commercialization and scale of technology. We will be actively developing and deploying technology that directly benefits the SENE economy and serves the U.S. economy and national security. 

STAY UPDATED

Events & Meetings

Ocean Tech Hub forms, holds working groups to gain intel from community.

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Proposed “Ocean Innovation Clusters” Will Support Continued Blue Economy Growth and Job Creation in Rhode Island

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Contact Us

For any inquiries please email

[email protected]