TMA BlueTech and Blue Venture Forum are bringing together two highly complementary U.S. maritime innovation ecosystems to explore practical pathways for collaboration, commercialization and market access.
Southern California brings significant strengths in maritime defense, ocean intelligence, autonomy, research and technology development. Southern New England offers a dense network of maritime and undersea technology companies, defense organizations, research institutions, investors, test facilities and commercialization resources.
The objective is straightforward: help companies and capabilities move more effectively between these ecosystems and connect with the customers, partners, capital, infrastructure and opportunities they need to advance.
Why This Matters
Innovation ecosystems become more valuable when companies can access resources and opportunities beyond their home regions.
This program is part of TMA BlueTech's broader effort to build stronger connections between Southern California and complementary maritime innovation ecosystems across the United States and internationally.
Rather than simply introducing one region to another, TMA's objective is to create actionable pathways between them:
Market Access
Connect companies with customers, partners and opportunities in new geographic and sector markets.
Testing + Validation
Identify facilities, programs and partners that can help technologies demonstrate capability and move toward operational use.
Capital + Commercialization
Connect companies with investors, accelerators, commercialization programs and strategic partners.
Technology + Research
Create stronger pathways among industry, universities, research institutions and mission-driven organizations.
Defense + Dual-Use Opportunities
Help companies better understand mission needs, acquisition environments and pathways into defense and national-security markets.
Why Southern New England?
Southern New England is one of the country's most concentrated maritime and undersea technology ecosystems, with particular strengths across:
Maritime defense and dual-use technologies
Ocean intelligence and autonomy
Uncrewed surface and underwater systems
Sensors, hardware and undersea technologies
Commercial fisheries and aquaculture
Marine biotechnology
Research and ocean science
Defense and commercial shipbuilding
Investment and commercialization
Through this relationship, TMA BlueTech members can better understand who is there, what resources are available, where opportunities exist and how to engage.
Just as importantly, the relationship creates a pathway for Southern New England organizations and companies to engage with Southern California's maritime defense, technology, research and ocean innovation ecosystem.
What We'll Explore
Welcome + The East-West Opportunity
Why stronger connections between Southern California and Southern New England matter and where the two ecosystems complement one another.
Inside the Southern New England BlueTech Ecosystem
Toby Stapleton will provide an overview of the organizations, capabilities, facilities and programs that make up the region's maritime innovation ecosystem.
Pathways for Companies
How companies can access regional customers, partners, defense programs, research institutions, testing resources, accelerators and commercialization support.
Capital + Commercialization
What investors are looking for in maritime and dual-use technologies, and how companies can better position themselves for investment and growth.
From Introduction to Action
Discussion with TMA members about specific areas of interest and opportunities for follow-up connections between the two ecosystems.
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for TMA BlueTech members and partners interested in:
Expanding into new U.S. markets
Finding customers and strategic partners
Defense and dual-use opportunities
Testing, demonstration and validation resources
Research and technology partnerships
Investment and commercialization
Building relationships within the Southern New England maritime ecosystem
The discussion will be particularly relevant to organizations working across maritime defense, ocean intelligence, autonomy, sensing, undersea systems, ocean technology and related dual-use capabilities.
Featured Presenter
Toby Stapleton, Managing Director, Blue Venture Forum
Blue Venture Forum connects companies, investors, universities, government organizations and other stakeholders across Southern New England's growing BlueTech ecosystem.
Toby will provide TMA members with a practical introduction to the ecosystem, including where its capabilities are concentrated, what resources companies can access and where opportunities may exist for collaboration with Southern California organizations.
Part of TMA BlueTech's Regional Connectivity Strategy
TMA BlueTech is working to make Southern California's maritime innovation ecosystem more connected to complementary regions across the United States and internationally.
The objective is not simply to create relationships between organizations. It is to build repeatable pathways through which companies can access customers, partners, capital, research, testing infrastructure and commercialization opportunities beyond their home market.
Southern New England represents an important U.S. connection in that strategy.
This virtual program is an initial step. TMA will use the interests and opportunities identified during the discussion to inform follow-up introductions, partnerships and future activities between the two ecosystems.
