Blue Institute: Innovative solutions for a Resilient & Thriving Blue Planet
We bridge tech innovation with community and culture to power a secure, sustainable, and emerging Blue Economy.
Upcoming Events
Meet the 13 Startups - the Blue Baker's Dozen - leading the next wave of ocean innovation.
When: Earth Day - April 22, 2026
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BLUE ECONOMY WEEK
From Local Harbors to Global Horizons: Connecting the North Atlantic Corridor to celebrate a thriving Blue Economy.
When: October 4-11, 2026
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Blue Sentinel Initiative: Bridging the Arctic Frontier
Beyond BX6, Blue Institute is developing a Maine-Alaska partnership to pair U.S. Veterans with high-TRL innovations. Leveraging Arctic Encounter leadership, Blue Sentinel aims to solve critical ruggedness and security challenges through dual-use tech in the world's most demanding environments.
Thank you to our BLUE Excelerator BX Sponsors!
Blue Institute Welcomes New Leadership
Dr. Robyn Hannigan's New Year Message
As the year begins, I’ve been thinking about the opportunities and responsibilities we share in strengthening the ecosystems (educational, organizational, and environmental) that shape how people learn, lead, and collaborate.
I’m honored to be serving as President of the Blue Institute, a nonprofit devoted to educating and empowering the next generation of leaders focused on water, climate resilience, and healthy, secure oceans. Programs like the BLUE Excelerator and community partnerships reflect how interdisciplinary engagement can translate insight into impact.
The year ahead will demand sustained attention to strategy, innovation, and collaborative leadership; I’m looking forward to contributing to that work alongside committed colleagues and partners.
Best wishes for a thoughtful and purpose-driven start to the year.
BLUE Institute - Our core is "the Next Generation"
At the end of the day - it's all about their future.
"We need a global approach to this from all sides. We need to educate people, we need the scientists to create new technologies, we need the engineers to create the networks, we need every human being to be aware of how precious water is and save it. Everybody has to be involved in a very firm and assertive way." - Isabel Allende, Chilean-American writer
Education, Culture & Community Engagement
We aim to help educate young people to be the next generation of "Water Thought Leaders" for their communities and the wider world. That could be as simple (and important) as serving on a local water resource committee, or exploring the burgeoning opportunities and career pathways in the blue economy through internships, workforce development, and our future BLUE Semester. Cultural engagements such as the annual "Words on Water" writing contest for poetry, prose and playwriting, offers both the writer and reader reflections on the relationships we all have with water - be it oceans, rivers, or a glass from the tap. Community conferences, art activities and science lectures engage learners of all ages. Our mission is to break down silos, educate, collaborate and to facilitate the creation of water thought leaders, resilient communities, and innovative solutions for clean water, climate resiliency, and healthy & secure oceans. We focus on equity and inclusion particularly for siloed and disparate educators, and innovators from academia, industry and government. We aim long term to bring them together with students for a semester at a time to take a deep dive into collaborative working climate solutions - because we believe strongly in open ecosystem and "innovation through collaboration." Our planet needs collaboration now.
Entrepreneurship & Climate Impact Innovation
Blue Institute is mission driven to support early stage BlueTech, ClimateTech, and Blue Economy Startups (including ideas growing within a university or a garage), and to develop more sector diversity and inclusion - particularly women and BIPOC in BlueTech. Our "Advanced Topics" BLUE Excelerator supports startups in an intensive virtual three month program with deep technical knowledge, field experienced mentors, and instructive curriculum modules.
Blue Institute key partner in Boston Harbor initiative
BLUE on Boston Harbor campus initiative
Leveraging Boston's innovation ecosystem, BLUE on Boston Harbor, a Northeast "Blue England" consortium in formation, will establish a vibrant ocean access campus as an international landing spot, accelerating sustainable growth in the 'Blue England' region through collaborative innovation, education, research and workforce development in the Blue Economy featuring a dedicated waterfront home for the Blue Institute, expanding the nonprofit's capacity to drive education, research, and workforce development. Alongside a shared labs/co-working facility for Blue Innovation Labs and the Blue Incubator, fostering collaboration among a consortium of Boston Harbor and "Blue England" Regional stakeholders, and international partners.
A Thank You to our Champions!
