Page 10: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2016)

View from the Top – part of the Organization of American States (OAS) – to de-

I was very interested to learn that TMA has velop topics that will be of interest to the 34 national port au- invited other “Subsea & Maritime Clusters” thorities from across the Caribbean and Latin America that are to the San Diego event. I know the San Diego members of CIP. With San Diego’s cluster of maritime tech-

Cluster fairly well … what speci? cally was the nology companies, this is the right place and the right time impetus to engage other clusters from around to launch OINA. We welcome you to visit San Diego for the the world?

As TMA develops relationships around the world, we have business development and networking, and stay for the beauti- found a handful of very active BlueTech clusters with the same ful weather! Second, we are expanding our international net- goal of fostering innovation through collaboration. So we in- work with the BlueTech Cluster Alliance and the 8th annual vited them to our Annual Summit in 2015, and were pleased BlueTech & Blue Economy Summit in November 2016 will that eight clusters participated from ? ve countries (Canada, focus on “Case Studies of Collaboration” between our global

France, Ireland, UK and the US). We spent a very full, very cluster partners. In March 2015, we led a trade mission to the productive day working through a series of topics of mutual south of France with seven of our member companies, two of interest and developed an initial roadmap for collaboration. which came home with agreements to do business with three

This year we will host the second convening of international French companies. There are more trade missions on the ho-

BlueTech clusters and anticipate having 10-12 clusters from rizon, and we look forward to collaborating with BlueTech countries like Canada, France, Ireland, Portugal, Norway, UK, clusters around the world to support each other’s companies.

and the US. We hope to formalize an international BlueTech Finally, we currently have more than 50 corporate members

Cluster Alliance in 2016 that promotes collaboration on proj- with a goal to reach 100 members by the end of 2016. Mem- ects, sharing of information and resources, and assisting each bership is the lifeblood of our organization and we work hard other’s companies. Once the model is working, we hope that to assist our member companies. We have a bene? t package additional organized clusters will join. for every level of membership and – as a big new bene? t –

TMA members will receive a 10% discount on exhibit space and to attend the concurrent conference at OINA. I hope that

Please discuss TMA’s top three initiatives for companies will contact TMA to discuss the bene? ts of becom- the coming 12-24 months.

First, TMA has partnered with Reed Exhibitions to bring ing a member and helping us promote an international Blue

Oceanology International North America (OINA) to San Di- Voice.

ego every two years beginning February 14-16, 2017. This will

Every organization, every position has its chal- be the largest maritime technology trade show in the Western lenges. What are your challenges, and how are

Hemisphere. We expect over 200 exhibitors and 3,000-5,000 you (personally and/or as an organization) in- attendees from 50 countries in 2017 and that it will grow from vesting to meet those challenges?

there. One area of particular focus for TMA is to engage or- ganizations across Latin America. For example, TMA will be One of the challenges in the maritime technology industry is working with the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) awareness. This BlueTech sector has largely gone unnoticed by

May 2016 10

MTR

MTR #4 (1-17).indd 10 4/25/2016 10:16:39 AM