BlueTech Month
Envisioning
November 2025
The Next Evolution of the Ocean Economy
From San Francisco to San Diego
Registration is open!
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Registration is open! ⋆
This November, the Next Evolution of the Blue Economy Takes Center Stage.
BlueTech Month 2025 is a month-long, multi-location, multi-partner initiative that will showcase the full power and possibility of ocean innovation. From San Francisco to San Diego, TMA BlueTech and its collaborators will host four distinct events, each designed to bring together global stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society — and each built to highlight the transformational role of maritime innovation in shaping our economic future, national security, and planetary health.
This isn’t just a series of events. It’s a coordinated movement to position California — the world’s fifth-largest economy — as a catalyst for the next era of ocean innovation. With its scale, scientific leadership, and cross-sector momentum, California is envisioning what a thriving, sustainable, and tech-driven maritime future could look like. But that future won’t be built in isolation.
BlueTech Month is an open invitation to global partners — from Norway to Japan, Canada to New Zealand, the UK to Korea — to bring their boldest ideas, technologies, and policy innovations to the table. The goal is not to showcase a single region, but to define a shared trajectory for maritime advancement that is collaborative, scalable, and aligned with the world's most pressing economic, environmental, and security challenges.
Three Events. One Vision.
Part 2
Adapting Norway’s Ocean Model to Unleash Southern California’s Scale
November 13–15 | Maritime Museum of San Diego & aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Where history meets the future: this event invites the public, educators, and students to explore how ocean technology is evolving — followed by a full day of high-impact policy and workforce development programming. With Norway’s historic research vessel Statsraad Lehmkuhl docked in San Diego, we’ll examine how cross-national partnerships, workforce strategy, and smart maritime policy can catalyze economic opportunity and ocean sustainability here at home.
November 13, onboard of Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Broadway Pier): Policy, Workforce, and Innovation.
The day’s programming will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and educators to explore how the BlueTech ecosystem can grow sustainably—advancing innovation while cultivating the skilled workforce needed for this rapidly evolving sector.
The evening will culminate with an exclusive reception aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, where policymakers, philanthropists, and industry leaders will gather in an intimate setting to forge new collaborations, announce commitments, and chart the next phase of BlueTech growth.
Proceeds from ticket sales for November 13 event will be directed to a dedicated TMA fund supporting scholarships for students and second-career seekers from underserved communities, enabling them to complete short-term maritime training and secure well-paid, high-demand ocean industry jobs.
November 14, from 10am to 4pm at Maritime Museum of San Diego: Open House Star of India, celebrating her 162nd Birthday.
Join the celebration aboard the world’s oldest active sailing ship, the Star of India! Enjoy free entry (walk-up only) and explore this remarkable vessel as volunteers serve cake and punch starting at noon, while supplies last.
Visitors wishing to explore the rest of the Maritime Museum may upgrade to general admission.
November 15, from 10am to 4pm at Maritime Museum of San Diego: Hands-on Exploration, and Interactive Experiences to learn about new innovative robotics, engineering and technologies designed to study and sustain our precious waterways. BlueTech demonstrations and experience stations will be included with general admission ticket purchase. Exhibitors will be staged on the steam ferryboat Berkeley upper deck. More demonstrations will take place on the aft barge area found at the rear of the Maritime Museum. Also see additional activities on Agenda.
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl, docked at Broadway Pier, will open its deck from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Guests are invited to step aboard this legendary tall ship, explore its magnificent decks, and hear the crew share inspiring stories about the vessel’s mission and global journey.
Part 3
From Seabed to Space:
The Next Evolution in Maritime Defense, Infrastructure and Resilience Integration
November 17–19 | Liberty Station Conference Center, Port of San Diego, and on-water demo locations
This is the core gathering of BlueTech Week 2025—Part 3: The Next Frontier in Maritime Defense, Infrastructure, and Resilience | From Seabed to Space—where strategy, technology, and urgency intersect.
What if the future of global power projection and economic resilience was shaped not in boardrooms or battlefields, but along our coasts? Part 3 brings together defense leaders, technologists, strategists, and investors to define that future and build the roadmap to get there.
Developed with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and under consideration as a formal DICE-level showcase, the summit will feature top participation from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Five Eyes partners, and commercial pioneers in AI, autonomy, infrastructure, and space-based intelligence.
November 17 — The Big Picture & Core Technological Shifts
The first day sets the strategic stage. Leaders from defense, science, and industry gather to chart how global maritime power, technology, and sustainability will intertwine by 2040.
Discussions move from space-based intelligence to next-generation port infrastructure and the energy systems that sustain maritime operations in a shifting world. Artificial intelligence, autonomy, and data integration emerge as core enablers of both mission readiness and environmental resilience.
November 18 — Collaboration, Innovation & Economic Strategy
Day 2 dives deeper into collaboration and execution. Panels explore how undersea intelligence, high-speed autonomy, and real-time ocean data are transforming operations and reshaping the maritime industrial base.
The conversation broadens to ports as anchors of energy and digital innovation, and to the investment strategies driving the next generation of ocean technology. This is where policymakers, investors, and innovators align on a shared roadmap — linking defense priorities to sustainable growth, and innovation to opportunity.
Two days of panels, workshops, and roundtables culminate in the TMA Challenge on November 19—a live, on-water demonstration and prize challenge focused on deployable solutions for coastal domain awareness, interdiction, and maritime operational continuity. Senior defense leaders and tech scouts will be on site to evaluate, engage, and invest.
November 19 — On-Water Demo Day
Taking place at the Aquatic Center in National City (3300 Pepper Park Pl), this free event will feature in/on-water tech demos from 10 of TMA’s most innovative member companies.
Part 4
Ocean Enterprise Reimagined:
Accelerating Innovation for Maritime Security, Economic Resilience, and Scientific Impact
November 20 | Scripps Seaside Forum
We close BlueTech Month 2025 with a powerful finale at the iconic Scripps Seaside Forum — the definitive gathering for ocean innovation leaders focused on the future of the U.S. ocean enterprise. Backed by the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerator grant, this full-day event brings together top startups, scientists, investors, and policymakers to explore emerging technologies in ocean observation, maritime security, resilient infrastructure, and dual-use innovation.
The highlight of the program will be the introduction of the new StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Cohort — the next generation of ocean innovators advancing solutions at the intersection of science, sustainability, and enterprise.
The StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is an immersive program designed to help U.S.-based (or U.S. subsidiary) ocean intelligence startups launch and scale in support of the goals of the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Initiative. Housed at the University of California San Diego, this program combines the entrepreneurial expertise of the Rady School of Management and Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation with the world-class ocean and technical expertise of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
For investors, strategic partners, and technology buyers, this event offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the founders shaping the future of BlueTech — and to support ocean innovation at its earliest and most impactful stage.
Expect a dynamic mix of panels, startup showcases, and investment insights — all aimed at accelerating high-impact solutions for economic growth, strategic advantage, and coastal stewardship.
And of course, we’ll close with our legendary Sunset Reception — an unforgettable conclusion to BlueTech Month, set against the stunning La Jolla coastline.
The Vision: What If We Got This Right?
BlueTech Month is not just about technology — it’s about building a maritime future we want to live in. Imagine:
A next evolution ocean supply chain that drives growth through zero-emission shipping, smart ports,
AI-driven logistics, climate-smart technologies and resilient coastal infrastructure.A world where every port is a testbed for clean maritime innovation
A California where ocean-tech startups are scaling globally through defense and environmental partnerships
A workforce pipeline that trains the next generation of maritime professionals from middle school to master’s programs
A national narrative that sees ocean innovation as essential to climate strategy, economic growth, and national security
This is the blueprint we’re building.
Join the Movement
BlueTech Month brings together public and private leaders, educators, founders, researchers, and investors who understand that ocean innovation isn’t a niche — it’s the next frontier. Whether you're shaping policy, deploying capital, building technology, or exploring career pathways, this is the platform for making an impact.
TMA Members Get Free Access
TMA BlueTech™ members receive free and priority access to BlueTech Month events, including exclusive sessions, VIP networking opportunities, and early registration for high-demand panels and receptions. Membership ensures deeper engagement, greater visibility, and direct connection to global BlueTech leaders throughout BlueTech Month. For more information about membership, click on the “Membership Info” button below.
Thank you to our sponsors!
FAQs
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Parking Info:
Nov 13-15: Paid parking around Broadway Pier and Maritime Museum of San Diego
Nov 17-18: Free parking at Liberty Station Conference Center
Nov 19: Free parking at Aquatics Center in National City (Pepper Park)
Nov 20: Free street parking around Scripps’ Seaside Forum
