The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has long been a pioneer of ocean technology, using decades of experience to push the boundaries of endurance and capability with each new deployment. This month, eco magazine’s editorial team spoke with the NOC’s Head of Innovation Centre & Events, Mark Hamson, to learn how the oceanographic institution is advancing solutions in the marine tech space.
Lab-to-Market Innovation
One standout lab-to-market development that the NOC has championed in recent years is the commercialization of the Lab-on-Chip (LOC) sensor.
“This was one of the first sensors of its kind employing microfluidics for autonomous oceanographic measurements, enabling longer deployments and offering reduced power consumption, cost, and size when compared to more traditional systems,” explains Hamson. “After a period of research, testing, and development by NOC and University of Southampton scientists and engineers, the technology was successfully licensed for commercial supply by ClearWater Sensors Ltd in 2019.”
Another example is the success of ecoSUB Robotics. The ecoSUB program began with an Innovate UK and DSTL-funded project, which included the development of the ecoSUBu for autonomous launch and recovery via an unmanned surface vehicle. Early stakeholder engagement in the ecoSUBu indicated the requirement for a larger vehicle to meet the emerging needs of the industry, so ecoSUBm was quickly conceived. Developed in partnership with the NOC, the ecoSUB engineering and development team is based at the NOC Innovation Centre in Southampton, benefiting from the facilities and expertise located within the hub of UK marine autonomous systems development.
The Scale Challenge
“The ocean is the single most important natural resource for life on earth, defining how we will live in the future as well as having the potential to help tackle some of humanity’s biggest challenges. Whilst there are some incredible developments being made in the UK ocean technology sector, there are many barriers to market that delay or outright prevent many solutions from being implemented, shares Hamson. “Ocean accelerator programs are absolutely essential in breaking down these barriers and for driving innovation and scale in the fast-growing Blue Economy.”
Accelerator programs can provide early-stage funding, technical resources, mentorship and expertise, opportunities for collaboration, access to markets, and exposure on a global scale. By combining and sharing resources and expertise and nurturing new innovators, ocean accelerator programs can propel the Blue Economy toward sustainable, profitable, and impactful growth.
“It is clear that developing mutually beneficial partnerships between research institutions and industry is essential in maximizing the impact of scientific discoveries and in supporting sustainable economic growth. Having these strong relationships ensures that research aligns closely with industry needs, bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application,” Hamson adds.
Ocean Catalyst Program
There are more than 150 UK-based accelerator and start-up incubator organizations or programs, but only one is dedicated to ocean technology. There are also around 225 companies classed as maritime start-ups in the UK.
“We felt that there was a need for an ocean accelerator to occupy the space supporting these start-ups. The National Oceanography Centre— with over 60 years of ocean research and technology experience—is uniquely positioned to support the advancement of new technologies for sustainable ocean exploration and research. We want to harness our expertise and utilize our role as a convener in the ocean space to provide the Ocean Catalyst accelerator program for early-stage marine technology development,” Hamson shares.
The purpose of the program is to support and accelerate the growth of innovative start-ups by providing essential resources, mentorship, and valuable networking opportunities. He adds, “Our ability to act at pace to solve the critical challenges facing the ocean depends on harnessing the potential of science and technology, and we believe that the Ocean Catalyst program is a key step in bringing to life the next generation of sustainable ocean technology.”
Program applications are now open, and the NOC will welcome its first cohort in April 2025. The program is designed for early-stage start-ups with high-growth potential, particularly those working on innovative projects in Ocean Science-related technologies and services. The program will include skill-building workshops and seminars, regular mentoring sessions, networking events with industry leaders, and a special pitch preparation and demo day featuring intensive pitch coaching.
When questioned about the growth and future of the Blue Economy, Hamson shared, “The Blue Economy is growing and evolving rapidly, and there are exciting opportunities across a range of industries. We have seen some interesting innovations in aquaculture to enhance food security while minimizing impacts, particularly with algae farming. Of course, marine renewable energies like offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy are advancing quickly, and the potential of floating wind farms to open up areas of the ocean too deep for fixed turbines is very interesting. When you add in the interest in marine plastic solutions, advances in marine data collection, ‘blue insurance’, and the shift to sustainable marine tourism, it is clear that the Blue Economy is an area of huge growth potential, and that a lot of this growth aligns with environmental sustainability. Our goal with Ocean Catalyst is to bring about the next generation of sustainable ocean technology to support this growth.”
This “topside talks” appeared in eco magazine’s 2024 Winter Edition—Ocean Enterprise. Read more of the magazine here.
