Page 42: of Marine Technology Magazine (October 2014)

Inside San Diego?s Blue Tech Economy Inside San Diego?s Blue Tech Economy Greg Cox has been a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 1995, where he oversees a regional gov- ernment with a $5.08 billion budget and 17,000 employees. He represents the First District, which extends along the Pa- ciÞ c Ocean and the popular beaches along Coronado to the coastal community of Point Loma. At the heart of the district lies San Diego Bay, a 23-square mile resource for commerce, ecology and recreation. He is currently serving a 4-year term on the California Coastal Commission. Describe the ?Blue Tech Community? and ?Blue Economy?? San Diego?s maritime industry and related economic activity comprise the regional ?Blue Economy? that was rec- ognized in the 2012 San Diego Maritime Industry Report as an economic powerhouse. It includes everything from ship- building to underwater robotics, from desalination technology to aquafarms. It even includes our new open-air, dockside sea- food market that is providing San Diego?s commercial  sh-ermen a way to sell directly to the public and support their families. Essentially, if it?s wet, it?s blue. Why is Blue Tech important to the San Diego area? And to California? San Diego, and California, is the perfect host for our Blue Economy. We have maritime cities located at the strate- gic ?pivot point? for the Paci c and San Diego has the larg- est concentrated maritime technology cluster in the U.S. and probably in the world. It represents the ?Next Big Thing? for our region and we will be actively supporting its development. Blue Tech represents a diversity of jobs from blue-collar man- ufacturing to PhD level research. This industry tackles our greatest challenges like drinking water, conservation, atmo- spheric research, and sustainable food and provides solutions that will bene t the rest of the country. San Diego is a hotbed of economic activity and our highly educated workforce is able to keep that going. What is the size, magnitude and scope of the San Diego Blue Tech cluster? It includes more than 1,400 companies producing over $14 billion of annual direct sales and a workforce of al- most 46,000 spread across an array of traditional and technol-ogy-oriented sectors.Why has this cluster grown here in San Diego? The Blue Economy is anchored in our naval heri- tage. The Navy attracted the talent, the manpower and the companies that produce the technologies that drive innova- tion including BlueTech. Now, San Diego?s BlueTech clus- ter represents the next big thing for our regional economy as BlueTech companies continue to develop and export products and technologies. Our location at the far southwest corner of the United States, bordered by the Paci c Ocean to the west, Mexico to our south, a desert to our east and a marine base to our north, creates a unique ecosystem that fosters innova- tion to address society?s biggest challenges. Technologies like water desalination, underwater robotics, alternative energy and sustainable aquaculture are  rmly rooted in San Diego. There is also an incredible group of organizations and leaders who are working together to nurture this Blue Economy ? the County and City of San Diego, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Maritime Alliance and the San Diego Association of Governments. What advantages do Blue Tech companies have by being located here? We have the largest concentrated maritime technol- ogy cluster in the U.S. and probably in the world and we have a commitment from government, businesses and community An in-depth conversation with Greg Cox, a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and California Coastal Com- mission and a key proponent of the San Diego Blue Tech Cluster. From the Desk of Greg Cox: October 201442 MTRMTR #8 (34-49).indd 42MTR #8 (34-49).indd 4210/10/2014 11:25:26 AM10/10/2014 11:25:26 AM