Maine Blue Economy Week Charts New Opportunities for Marine Innovation

More than 300 participants gathered in Portland from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 for Maine’s inaugural Blue Economy Week, held as part of Gov. Janet Mills’ designation of the week as a statewide celebration of Maine’s ocean economy.

“The future of Maine’s blue economy depends on continued investment in the people, research, businesses, and working waterfronts that have always transformed necessity into innovation, and innovation into the Maine we know today,” Governor Mills said in the proclamation.

The three-day event showcased Maine’s powerful innovation ecosystem by bringing together business owners, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, educators, students, and policymakers to explore opportunities for growth, innovation, and collaboration.

A Maine Department of Economic and Community Development report released during the week highlighted opportunities to retain more economic value in Maine by expanding processing and manufacturing infrastructure and developing stronger supply chains. The industries spotlighted in the report’s blue economy analysis, including blue biotech and aquaculture, accounted for approximately $14.4 billion in sales and 88,726 jobs statewide in 2025.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the University of Maine, and Northeastern University’s Roux Institute jointly organized the event, with major support from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and Maine Technology Institute.

“If we’re going to bring prosperity to the state of Maine, these kinds of jobs — blue economy, science-based jobs that are using marine resources sustainably — are the way to do it,” said Deborah Bronk, Bigelow Laboratory’s president and CEO in her opening remarks. “This is an incredibly exciting time to be a part of this.”

Bronk said she first joined Bigelow Laboratory in part because of its determination to turn cutting-edge research and discoveries into real-world solutions. Achieving that, she said, will require a dynamic ecosystem of partners across many sectors — from business to academia.

Breakout sessions addressed financing, workforce development, and commercialization, drawing on lessons from ocean-focused regions including Alaska and New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Founder flash talks highlighted emerging companies exploring the blue innovation space, ranging from biodegradable fishing lures to expanding Maine’s production capacity for canned seafood.

Mike Lomas, Bigelow Laboratory senior research scientist and director of the Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA), co-led a session on practical strategies for moving ideas from academia to industry.

Lomas leads the NSF-funded Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator (MARIA) project, which brings research, education, and business together to accelerate the path from algae discovery to application. During the event, he emphasized the importance of connecting research and discovery with the capital, infrastructure, and processing capabilities needed to turn promising ideas into market-ready products.

The Innovation Showcase & Blue Fair filled multiple floors of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute on Oct. 1. Exhibits featured a 3D-printed electric boat, electric propulsion technology, water-quality monitoring tools, and portable cold storage for seafood harvesters. Visual art and poetry readings highlighted Maine’s coastal environment and culture.

A series of field trips on Oct. 2 brought participants around the state to explore different aspects of the blue economy. One tour focused on the Midcoast, with stops at PhytoSmart, Bigelow Laboratory, and the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center.

At Bigelow Laboratory, participants toured the NCMA, home to one of the world’s largest collections of living algae. They also got a glimpse of the lab's state-of-the-art testing services and incubator spaces, which give entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop and scale new products. Together, these resources highlighted the potential for algae-based blue biotechnology innovation across sectors, including pharmaceuticals, material science, and agriculture.

The group then boarded the R/V Bowditch, Bigelow Laboratory’s 48-foot research vessel, for a cruise to the Darling Marine Center, where they learned about their seaweed research and seed bank program focused on genetic diversity in the Gulf of Maine. Earlier in the day, the group visited PhytoSmart, a Maine company that produces sustainable pet supplements using marine microalgae.

“Bringing diverse industries together at Bigelow Laboratory during Maine Blue Economy Week creates opportunities to connect ocean science with business needs,” Lomas said. “These partnerships have the potential to turn discovery into new products, quality jobs, and a stronger future for Maine’s coastal communities.”

Photo Captions

Photo 1: From left to right: Senior Research Scientist Mike Lomas, Senior Research Scientist Manoj Kamalanathan, Project Administrator Sarah Meyers, Research Associate and Data Manager Paige Norris, and Managing Director of Technology Development Robert Schmedicke were among some of the Bigelow Laboratory team members at the event.

Photo 2: Bigelow Laboratory CEO and President Deborah Bronk speaks to a crowded room on the first day of the event.

Photo 3: Mike Lomas shows tour participants around Bigelow Laboratory's algae greenhouse (Credit: Sarah Meyers).

Photo 4: Tour participants aboard the R/V Bowditch (Credit: Sarah Meyers).