In 2014, St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter Initiative conducted a target business analysis to identify industries that were growing and could become pivotal for our future. One of the industries identified was “marine science.” This was no surprise. We have had a long-standing, robust collaboration of academic, government, and nonprofit organizations working on water-related issues.
Fast forward to 2021, when Preparing a Workforce for the New Blue Economy was published. This book contained a collection of essays that highlighted the need for new technology and data solutions to solve many of the same water-related challenges. Our conversations pivoted from “marine science” to “new blue economy” and “marine economy.” At that time, the marine economy in Tampa Bay accounted for $8.7B in gross domestic product (GDP), $4.8B in wages, and approximately 5,720 businesses. Our five-year growth had outpaced the state, and more specifically, the Miami metro area. However, we fell behind in the number of new business starts.
That revelation, and other work happening to encourage innovation in the marine economy, led the St. Pete Innovation District and its partners to pursue a NOAA grant to implement accelerator programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurs commercializing technology solutions for the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
Today, we continue to see growth in the number of private companies—startups to well-established—emerging in our region. We have pivoted once again in how we refer to the water-related work that brings academic, government, nonprofit, and private industry together. Now, we use the term “ocean enterprise” to reflect the language used by both the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and NOAA. Whichever term is used, ultimately the St. Pete Innovation District is committed to facilitating the growth of research, innovation, and ideas that make our coastal community stronger.
Alison Barlow
CEO
Last month, the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub kicked off the school year with a lively Retro Back-to-School themed Happy Hour. Tenants brought their families, and the space was filled with throwback snacks, classic laser backdrop photo ops, and plenty of nostalgic fun.
Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay's 3DE initiative connects high school students with local and national businesses, giving them hands-on experience in problem-solving.
October always feels like conference season — a time when professionals from around the world gather to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen collaborations. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the OCEANS 2025 Conference in Chicago, a global gathering for those advancing ocean science and maritime technology.