NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators
Program Summary
The Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program, which grew out of the Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators funding opportunity, is distributed throughout the U.S. and focuses on supporting U.S. Ocean Enterprise small businesses and entrepreneurs.
These businesses will ultimately provide commercial products and services to key marine and coastal sector industries, including offshore energy, coastal management, marine carbon, water quality, aquaculture, shipping, ports, tourism, and others.
These accelerator organizations will continue engaging and working with NOAA and many external industry partners to identify the greatest needs and opportunities for innovation within the Ocean Enterprise.
Key Industries Served
- Offshore Energy
- Coastal Management
- Marine Carbon & Water Quality
- Aquaculture
- Shipping, Ports & Tourism
The Ocean Enterprise
The Ocean Enterprise comprises all entities in the public and private sector that provide infrastructure or capacity to collect or deliver operational ocean information products and services.
The critical insights derived from this ocean data are growing in importance and are often reliant on the application of highly adaptable technologies, suited to a spectrum of data and information applications across multiple industries and use cases.
The overarching goal of NOAA’s Ocean Enterprise program is to
support the development, commercialization, and adoption of new ocean data technologies and services for economic and societal benefit to the United States and our growing blue economy.
Ocean Data Technologies
Economic Growth
Societal Benefit
The Four Accelerators
StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator
gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator
VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator
The Continuum
Program News & Milestones
Official Program Launch
Phase 1 Awards
Phase 2 Awards & Kick-Off
What Are Accelerators?
- Training and educational resources for entrepreneurs
- Mentorship from industry experts and advisors
- Access to funding and investment opportunities
- Support for bringing products to market
Background
The focus of this funding opportunity was to partner with and fund eligible organizations to develop business accelerators that provide specific programming and opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to innovate and bring new technologies and information services to market. The program will foster public-private partnerships to develop and support sustainable business models around ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observation technologies, products, and services that address needs and opportunities in coastal and marine industries.
NOAA technical assistance was made available for organizations applying for and receiving funding. NOAA will continue actively partnering with awardees through cooperative agreements, providing scientific and management expertise.
