Why Wilmington, NC is a great place for BlueTech development and businesses
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Why Wilmington, NC is a great place for BlueTech development and businesses

ByBill Wilson

The greater Wilmington/SENC region provides a unique set of features that support evolution and maturation of BlueTech that is critical to the evolution and maturation of the Blue Economy: It is adjacent to the second largest coastal riverine estuary system in the nation. Second only to Florida, North Carolina has the largest coastal access to…

What are the Blue Economy and Blue Tech?
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What are the Blue Economy and Blue Tech?

ByBill Wilson

“Although the term “blue economy” has been used in different ways, it is understood here as comprising the range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of oceanic resources is sustainable.” – World Bank  The blue economy includes many different activities, including: renewable energy, fisheries, maritime transport, tourism, and defense…

Offshore Wind Can Drive BlueTech Innovation in Southeast NC.
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Offshore Wind Can Drive BlueTech Innovation in Southeast NC.

ByBill Wilson

On May 11 the U.S. Interior Department Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will conduct an auction for the Wilmington East offshore wind tract. This will kick off a process that will progress in phases over 25-30 years. When completed, the Wilmington East area could generate more than 1.5 gigawatts of electricity, which Interior said is…

The Blue Economy Ecosystem in the U.S.

The Blue Economy Ecosystem in the U.S.

ByBill Wilson

Wilmington, due to it’s proximity to the ocean, has a strong Blue Economy.  However,  the region currently has no economic development programs focused on growing its Blue Economy. The UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has recently started  a blue focused program, still in its formative stage. Cape Fear Ocean Labs grew out of…

Blue Convergence

Blue Convergence

ByBill Wilson

As part of the Alliance for the Blue Economy sponsored All Blue Week in November 2021, globally recognized futurist Deb Westphal conducted a series of ‘Convergence’ interviews to facilitate local leadership investment in the Blue Economy.  See the Convergence conversation with Glenn Anderson, the Board Chair of Cape Fear Ocean Labs.  CFOL is a nonprofit dedicated to…