The Innovation District and six partners were recently selected to help grow startups that are working on technology/data solutions for the ocean economy. This powerful collaboration is made possible thanks to $13.9 million awarded by the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program.
The team, known as The Continuum (Braid Theory, Ocean Exchange, St. Pete Innovation District, Seaworthy Collective, Tampa Bay Wave, University of South Florida, and World Ocean Council), will operate both regionally and nationally, building on environmental resilience ecosystems in Florida while supporting startups through partner nodes around the country that serve as test beds for demonstrations. This broad geographic reach ensures that regional challenges are addressed with a holistic, interconnected approach, strengthening national innovation capacity, as well as offering American startups the potential for international reach.
This win is an exciting milestone for the Innovation District and the Tampa Bay Ocean Enterprise. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. To learn more click here (thecontinuum.blue)
For recent articles about the award click here (St Pete Catalyst), click here (TBBJ), click here (USF CMS), click here (NOAA).
Be sure to check out registration for our annual State of Science and Innovation below!
I hope you all have a safe and joyous holiday season. See you in 2025!
Alison Barlow
Executive Director
Join us on our next tour of the Innovation District! Our tour will begin at the HUB, and we will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners. As we travel throughout the District, you will learn about the fascinating history and exciting future plans for the area. We will make several stops for a unique insider view of the research and collaborations underway. Participants are invited to enjoy a networking happy hour back at the HUB, where our tour will conclude.
A group of support organizations, led by the Innovation District and fueled by a grant from Duke Energy, developed our first Tampa Bay Innovation Ecosystem Map in 2023. We aim to continue guiding entrepreneurs to the best possible resources with an updated version.
Josh Rojas of Bay News 9 recently visited the Maritime and Defense Tech Hub, where he was welcomed by CEO Alison Barlow and COO Lauren Bell for a discussion about the building’s future expansion. The Hub is already home to a thriving community of companies and demand continues to grow. To accommodate this momentum, leaders are envisioning Hub 2.0, a second building proposed for the west parking lot.