Second, our engagement with educational institutions and workforce development is critical. First, we have a growing number of examples of partnerships among TMA members internationally and with companies of our cluster partners – collaboration works. We will also have water clusters with us for the first time.

This year, for the first time, we are running multiple tracks for ocean and water technology providers and users – our member companies sell across both domains – including a dedicated water track with six panels. And finally, while TMA is best known for our ocean tech work, we are a cluster that covers both fresh and salt water. Fourth, there is not enough financing available to innovative SMEs, so last year we launched a BlueTech PitchFest day, which returns in 2017 with more presenting companies and more investors and channel partners expected. states to participate in the “by invitation” day. For the third annual Cluster Convening this year, we expect 17-18 clusters and clusters-in-formation related to ocean and water technologies from at least eight countries and nine U.S. Third, two years ago in 2015 we added a BlueTech Cluster Convening and had eight clusters from five countries participate sharing best practices and exploring ways to collaborate. and international with members in Brazil, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Norway, South Africa and the U.K., which means more members participate from around the world. Second, we became a membership organization in late 2013 and over the last four years have added over 80 corporate members starting in San Diego and increasingly across the U.S. As examples, we have grown from two events over two days to seven events over five days of BlueTech Week 2017 with a theme of “Smart Ocean, Smart Water.” Attendance over the week has expanded from probably 100 in the first year to an expected 450 across the multiple events this year.

But there have been amazing developments over the years. The basic concepts are the same – to “Promote BlueTech & Blue Jobs”, foster collaboration and international outreach.

Bluetech week