The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to boost the "Blue Economy" by designating ocean innovation clusters and providing grants to foster collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth in ocean-related industries.
Lisa Murkowski
Senator
AK
The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to foster sustainable growth in the "Blue Economy" by designating and supporting Ocean Innovation Clusters. These clusters, composed of diverse stakeholders, will promote collaboration, innovation, and economic development related to oceans and Great Lakes resources. The Act directs federal agencies to support these clusters through partnership managers, technical knowledge exchange, and measurement of their economic impact. Additionally, it establishes a grant program to fund the operation and administration of Ocean Innovation Clusters, with the goal of creating self-sustaining entities that drive regional economic benefits.
New Bill Aims to Launch 7+ "Ocean Innovation Clusters" to Boost Coastal Economies and Blue Tech
Congress is looking at diving deep into the 'Blue Economy' – basically, all the economic activity tied to our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 proposes setting up at least seven regional hubs, called Ocean Innovation Clusters, within a year of the bill passing. The goal? To kickstart sustainable growth in areas like fishing, marine tech, coastal tourism, and renewable ocean energy.
Setting Sail for Growth
Think of these clusters as regional teams focused on boosting ocean-related industries. They won't just be government offices; the bill requires them to be partnerships involving businesses, universities (including Tribal and minority-serving institutions), non-profits, government bodies, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Each cluster needs to be led by a non-profit and will focus on a specific geographic area. To ensure broad coverage, the plan mandates at least one cluster in each of the five National Marine Fisheries Service regions, plus the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. When deciding who gets designated, factors like potential for economic growth, serving diverse coastal communities, and ability to create jobs or build climate resilience will be key.
What These Hubs Will Actually Do
These clusters aren't just think tanks. They're tasked with practical actions like improving seafood supply chains, helping new people and businesses enter the Blue Economy, managing intellectual property from ocean research, and developing workforce training programs. Federal agencies like NOAA and the Economic Development Administration will assign liaisons to work directly with each cluster. The bill also pushes for better data collection, using tools like the Marine Economy Satellite Account to actually measure the economic impact these clusters have. Furthermore, each region will get a physical 'Ocean Innovation Center' – a collaborative workspace managed by the local cluster(s) to foster connections between entrepreneurs, researchers, industry, and the next generation of workers.
Funding the Voyage
To get these clusters up and running, the bill authorizes competitive grants. Eligible clusters can apply for up to $10 million for operations and administration. These grants would run for two years initially, with potential renewals. The idea is to provide seed money to help the clusters eventually become self-sustaining, possibly through membership fees or other revenue streams. The bill sets aside $10 million per year from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 specifically for these grants. This funding aims to bridge the gap between designation and long-term viability, giving these regional hubs the resources needed to start making waves in the Blue Economy.