Blue Economy Innovation Program
Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems and the communities which depend on them.
What is the Blue Economy?
The blue economy comprises economic activity related to the ocean, seascapes, coastlines, intertidal regions, and connected coastal watersheds. According to the World Bank (2017), the blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. NC State is rapidly becoming poised to be a leader in fueling equitable, resilient and sustainable growth in next-generation maritime technologies (bluetech) and economies.
NC State’s award-winning Blue Economy Innovation Program (BEIP) started in August 2020 as a working group to garner the ideas and expertise of NC State students, staff, and faculty and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. In February 2023, the Blue Economy Innovation Program was formalized within the Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (CRSI), appointing Dr. Chris Osburn as Director. In March 2024, the BEIP received the Innovation and Impact Award from NC State’s Sustainability Council. The BEIP has three main activities designed to promote the blue economy at NC State and with local and regional partners.
Promoting the Blue Economy through Innovation
Annual Workshop
In 2021, the “Creating Solutions for the Global Blue Economy” inaugural workshop (hosted at Carteret Community College) brought together entrepreneurs and knowledge experts with NC State undergraduate and graduate students to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship. This effort, led by Dr. Osburn, has attracted the interest of incubators, like First Flight Venture Center and Sea-Ahead, Inc., to help catalyze ideas generated by students into potential entrepreneurial endeavors. With generous support from NC State and external sponsors, the workshop remains free to undergraduate and graduate students. The workshop continues to be a core component of introducing the blue economy to the Wolfpack community.
Courses
Two courses at NC State are offered through the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, currently as “special topics” courses. MEA 493/591 Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Blue Economy is offered every fall and is open both to undergraduate and graduate students and expands upon the workshop, which takes place concurrently in the fall semester. There is no prerequisite and the course is open to all majors!
In the Spring 2025 semester, MEA 493/591, Science Entrepreneurship, is being offered. This hands-on course will train students in the principles of entrepreneurship so that they may transform their ideas into research and business proposals. Students will investigate funding opportunities in both private and public sectors, learn the mechanics of proposal preparation and business model development, as well as intellectual property, and regulatory considerations. A detailed exploration of state and federal opportunities for non-dilutive funding will be included. A key focus will be developing student skills to prepare research proposals including budgets, justifications, and associated documents.
Networking and Mentoring
The third goal of the BEIP is to engage and leverage partnerships with diverse NC State units, including the Center for Marine Science and Technology (CMAST), the KIETS Climate Leaders Program, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Center for Geospatial Analytics, the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy, and the Data Science Academy. These partnerships provide abundant resources for mentoring students interested in the blue economy.
The BEIP also is building networks to NC Sea Grant, the NC State Climate Office, and the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, as well as NC’s Renewable Ocean Energy Program. Outside of NC State, the BEIP partners with Carteret Community College, Stardust Startups, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute of the Environment, UNC-Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and others on initiatives and events to build a larger blue economy innovation ecosystem in North Carolina.
These collaborative efforts position NC State at the forefront of advancing the blue economy, driving sustainable innovation, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Upcoming Events
October 14-15, 2024
Blue Economy Workshop Fall 2024
SAVE THE DATE – the next Creating Solutions for the Global Blue Economy workshop will be held in Morehead City on October 14-15, 2024.
Note this is a Mon/Tue and occurs during NCSU’s Fall Break.
News and Updates
Dr Alice Hill: The Insurance industry is the retreating canary in the CLIMATE coal mine
LJ Palmer-Moloney (Stardust Startups) shared this short video from Dr. Alice Hill on climate resilience and insurance. Innovations are certainly needed here.
Article Related to 2023 BEIP Workshop Panel
Coastal Review has a nice article related to our 2023 workshop panel with boat captains David Berrane and Chris Kimrey and shellfish grower Mark Hooper. In that discussion, our panelists noted that keen competition in the recreational fishing industry promotes the maximum possible catch, but also that successful fishing often results in a lot of valuable fish getting thrown out (with or without freezer burn).
Now, this article is mostly about fish preparation methods but it is a good reminder that such notes to clients can form the basis of a larger discussion on conservation. Appealing to a sense of “waste not, want not” compliments quite nicely emphasizing the diverse and creative ways you can enjoy your catch.
As we work to develop a sustainable and equitable blue economy in NC and beyond, these types of panel discussions are critical. Thanks much again to David, Chris, and Mark for their participation!
Water crisis: how local technologies can help solve a global problem
From the journal, Nature: Climate change is making water stress worse for billions worldwide. Scaling up both new and traditional solutions must be a priority.