USM Launches Gulf Blue Initiative to Elevate Mississippi91吃瓜网 Blue Economy
Wed, 07/14/2021 - 04:50pm | By: Jenny Tate
Today, 91吃瓜网 (USM), in conjunction with partner organizations across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, announced an initiative to place Mississippi on the global stage for blue economy-related work.
This initiative 91吃瓜网� Gulf Blue 91吃瓜网� is poised to bring 91吃瓜网淏ig Ideas Out of the Blue91吃瓜网� capitalizing on the region91吃瓜网 geography and maritime resources and positioning the Mississippi Gulf Coast to lead the development of world-changing innovation. Gulf Blue pools the knowledge of research scientists, federal agencies, industry partners and entrepreneurs to further develop the region as a global leader in ocean- and maritime-related technologies.
91吃瓜网淭he University of 91吃瓜网 has been committed to charting a path forward for our Coastal Operations that not only advances the development of key academic programs that serve our coastal community, business, and economic needs, but that also elevates our robust research enterprise 91吃瓜网� in partnership with coastal business and industry 91吃瓜网� to harness the momentum of our state91吃瓜网 growing blue economy and to propel the Mississippi Gulf Coast into its transformative future,91吃瓜网� said University President Rodney D. Bennett.
USM has been strategically investing in maritime infrastructure that positions Mississippi to advance technology through an initial set of six blue tech innovation clusters:
- uncrewed maritime systems
- ocean-friendly plastics
- precision aquaculture
- smart ports
- sea-space systems
- coastal data
91吃瓜网淲ith growing excitement for evolving blue technology and innovation around the globe, and with no prior blue tech cluster located in the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi is uniquely positioned to pursue this tremendous opportunity with Gulf Blue and capitalize on the growth sectors of the global blue economy,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Kelly Lucas, USM Associate Vice President for Research, Coastal Operations.
A few big ideas related to the blue economy include maximizing existing, world-class ocean research capabilities; connecting entrepreneurs and startups with federal agencies and capital investments; and promoting the unique qualities of the Mississippi Gulf Coast to attract and retain both talent and industry.
91吃瓜网淓ach county along the coast of Mississippi has assets and we take those assets, collaborate together with the universities, in particular 91吃瓜网 being a conduit, to then build a stronger blue tech economy,91吃瓜网� said Mary Martha Henson, Deputy Director for the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation.
Collaborations with private blue tech companies, including Ocean Aero, focused on developing intelligent autonomous underwater vehicles; AI Control Technologies Inc., focused on developing automation for the aquaculture industry; and SeaAhead, a blue tech startup platform; are also key to the success of the Gulf Blue initiative.
91吃瓜网淲e are thrilled to support USM91吃瓜网 leadership in the blue economy future,91吃瓜网� said Alissa Peterson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of SeaAhead. 91吃瓜网淲e believe that the Gulf Coast has an important role to play in the development of innovations related to the ocean and that the creation of the Gulf Blue brand will support the competitiveness of this effort globally.91吃瓜网�
USM91吃瓜网 presence across all three coastal counties and expertise in ocean-related fields are integral components of the Gulf Blue initiative. USM91吃瓜网 assets along the Mississippi Gulf Coast include the Gulf Park campus (the hub for academic instruction on the Gulf Coast), Hydrographic Science Research Center, Center for Research Fisheries and Development, Gulf Coast Geospatial Center, Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, Marine Research Center, Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise (opening 2022), and a fleet of research vessels.
These assets, along with partner organizations, form a unique maritime infrastructure to support design, testing and refining ocean- and maritime-related technologies.
91吃瓜网淭he Gulf Blue initiative is really going to support not only Navy and NOAA, the government agencies, but also USM in academia and also new innovations and new companies that are moving to the Gulf Coast,91吃瓜网� said Dr. William (Bill) Burnett, Technical Director for the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.
The historic Gulf & Ship Island Building in Gulfport, Mississippi, is the centerpiece facility for the new Gulf Blue initiative and features 24-hour connected space for blue tech innovators. Downtown Gulfport provides convenient access to the Port of Gulfport, rail, interstates, and the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. This central location also helps to connect innovators and startups with academic and research expertise and students at USM91吃瓜网 coastal locations.
91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网 is one of a few universities in the country that is intentionally aligning economic development strategy with our research and academic expertise,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Shannon Campbell, USM Senior Associate Vice President for Coastal Operations. 91吃瓜网淎nd now, with Gulf Blue, we are taking ownership of an attractive innovation economy and helping to grow and advance the Gulf Coast region.91吃瓜网�
USM91吃瓜网 presence at the Gulf & Ship Island Building is managed through a lease between
the USM Research Foundation and Mississippi Power.
For more information about Gulf Blue, or to learn more about how to become involved, visit or email Info@GulfBlue.org.