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 for a Trolley Tour of the District on Friday, April 18th from 1:30pm-4:30pm. This popular event is offered 2-3 times a year. It begins at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. You will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners and community members. As we travel throughout the District, you will learn about the history and future plans for the area. We will make several stops for an insider view of the research and collaborations underway. The tour will conclude back at Hub with a networking happy hour.
The Innovation District hosts a quarterly breakfast series called Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change. At each session we explore emerging technologies, invite District partners to share their current related efforts, and engage in thoughtful (and hopefully spirited) discussions that will spark future innovation.
Each month our team confers about what to include in the District newsletter. We lament how to share all the amazing stories while not creating an encyclopedia (yes, I am showing by age with an old school reference). We are fortunate to have so many things going on in the District.