When I joined the Innovation District I was amazed at how many world renowned thought-leaders worked in St. Petersburg, particularly within the District boundaries. They are the keynote speakers at conferences, authors who publish reports that guide innovations in their field, and chairs of national and international committees. To us they are the people we see at the grocery store, the neighbor down the street, or the friend we don't quite understand what they do (even though we ask them to explain it a dozen times).
We recently lost one of those "Rock Stars" of St. Petersburg - Dr. Bill Hogarth. Bill was a guiding force of the marine science community. He played a significant role in the growth of this industry cluster in St. Petersburg, across the nation and internationally. I can't recall when I first met Bill. Maybe it was when they commissioned the Research Vessel Hogarth in his honor. I can share that Bill was always encouraging of new ideas, thoughtful in his analysis, and a great human being. There have been wonderful and more articulate words written about Bill and his accomplishments that I encourage you to read - St. Pete Catalyst article: USF mourns the loss of a marine science legend and the Tampa Bay Times obituary: William Hogarth 1939-2022.
The above picture of Bill was taken at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub Ribbon Cutting in March. He is standing next to the R/V Hogarth image in the mural by St. Pete artist Carrie Jadus.
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.