We are defining “blue tech” as technological innovations in aquaculture, offshore wind, sustainable maritime, stormwater and flooding management, harbor, bay and ocean restoration, living ocean, urban waterfront, and more.

What Are the Goals of BluetechMD?

We want to create a robust bluetech economy and provide more opportunities to encourage public-private sector collaboration and collectively solve our climate change problems. We want to develop and grow an equitable workforce, build more companies, and share our story better. 

Maryland has a growing maritime tech economy which requires more industry leaders, knowledge partners, and investors. The challenges to our waters are unprecedented and acute with acidification, warming and sea level rise, pollution, and the loss of critical marine biodiversity. This ecosystem, with its breadth and depth of capabilities, is naturally poised to join other emerging blue tech clusters. 

From our coalition members:

“BlueTechMD is bringing a multitude of collaborations together to support technological advancements in areas that include sustainable aquaculture, offshore wind, and the health of our harbors and oceans - issues that will improve lives” said Russell Hill, executive director, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET). “The Blue Tech industry has a strong future in Maryland, and we’re looking forward to building a more sustainable future of growth for the industry and companies in Maryland.”

“This new Consortium will help lead economic development for our State’s Blue Tech industries,” said Brian Toll, director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator. “Maryland’s physical proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and its robust Port of Baltimore provide strong place-based foundations for Blue Tech innovation. If we want to see more companies, technologies and jobs, we need to focus on bringing more funding and support to develop the State’s Blue Tech ecosystem.”

“Maryland has all of the right assets to make it to a top three center of Blue Tech innovation in the country,” said Claire Broido Johnson, former managing director, Maryland Momentum Fund current COO of Fermata Energy. “Our group wants to energize the ecosystem and bring more Blue Tech entrepreneurs and investors to Maryland.”