Who is this for?
We are looking for university faculty, researchers, students, and teams interested in exploring the commercial opportunities of their research or innovations. Technical expertise may include but is not limited to:
- Disciplines: Ocean engineering, civil/environmental engineering, environmental sciences, marine biology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, oceanography, etc.
- Expertise: geographic information systems (GIS), robotics, corrosion, acoustics, risk/hazard coastal mitigation, instrumentation, sensors, offshore engineering, ocean mapping, etc.
Why should I participate?
Participant benefits:
- Exposure to lean startup methodology and the chance to explore possible pathways for your innovation
- Networking with peers and domain experts in ocean-related fields
- Understanding funding options to further your innovations
- Exiting the workshop with tangible next steps and access to the VentureWell network
Do I need to have a team to participate?
If you do have a team, we encourage you to apply with your team, but it is not necessary. The program is open to early-stage innovators and researchers, and we recognize that you may not have formed a team yet.
What experience is required to participate?
We are looking for researchers and innovators interested in learning about commercialization and innovation pathways, and those who are addressing ocean observing technologies, tools, and information services related to:
- Ocean Renewable Energy
- Coastal and Ocean Carbon Sequestration Monitoring and Accounting
- Hazard Mitigation and Coastal Resilience
- Ecosystems Services, including change detection, change analysis (cause and effects), and change adaptation and/or mitigation
Who are the coaches?
- Jeff Plumblee, Resilience and Sustainability Specialist
- Courtney McGeachy, Director of Ocean Visions-United Nations Decade Collaborative Center for Ocean Climate Solutions, Ocean Visions
- Whitney Tallarico, CEO, GRIT Consulting; Program Manager, Alaska Blue Economy Center
- Kirk Waltz, Director, Government Services Business Development—Clean Energy Transition, American Bureau of Shipping
Will I have access to work materials?
Yes, all participants will have access to work materials.
When and how long is the program?
The pilot program consists of two parts: Part 1 will take place on June 17-18, 2024, and Part 2 will take place July 16, 2024. Each part will run from 2:00 to 6:00 pm ET and will be conducted online.
Is there a cost for the program?
There are no costs to participate in the program.
What specific areas of ocean resilience does the program focus on?
The program focuses on supporting innovations related to ocean renewable energy, coastal and ocean carbon sequestration monitoring and accounting, hazard mitigation and coastal resilience, and ecosystem services including change detection, analysis, adaptation, and mitigation.
Ocean Renewable Energy
- Renewable energy observation instrumentation
- Data utilization and impact studies on fisheries and Endangered Species Act (ESA)–listed species
- Benthic mapping
- Transfer of power from offshore to the onshore grid
Carbon Sequestration in Coastal and Oceanic Environments
- Quantification of carbon capture, removal, or storage
- Understanding the uncertainty in quantifying carbon sequestration and the market’s tolerance for this uncertainty
Hazard Mitigation and Coastal Resilience
- Engineering and economic analysis of nature-based infrastructure
- Decision support tools for siting and performance tracking of nature-based infrastructure
- Decision support tools for fine-scale risk assessment
Ecosystem Services
- Understanding synergies between multiple species and their response to changing ocean conditions
- Decision support tools for natural resource managers across various governance levels
- Leveraging private vessels for ocean and coastal observations
What areas are not included in the ocean resilience program focus?
- Direct development of energy technologies.
- Development of carbon sequestration technologies themselves. Emphasis is on quantification.
- Direct development of infrastructure. Emphasis is on decision support tools.
- Within ecosystem services, no direct intervention technologies. Emphasis is on decision support tools within ecosystems.
Not sure if you are a fit? Interested in translating your technology or field of emphasis to one of the technical areas?
We encourage you to apply or reach out with any questions.
Could you give me an overview of the topics we’ll cover?
NOAA Innovates | Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerator, powered by VentureWell, will support innovators navigating the commercialization process through tailored programming which will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Venture development pathways
- Market discovery and applications
- Value chains
- Hypothesis testing and customer discovery
Innovators will have access to instructors, coaches, and guest speakers, along with templates and tools to support their continued development post-workshop.