Blue Innovation Labs for a healthy and secure Blue Planet
Affiliations, Collaborations, Partners, and Sponsors
North Atlantic BlueTech Cluster Updates
Blue Excelerator BX6 Cohort
This Earth Day, our sister nonprofit 501c3 the Blue Institute is proud to unveil the Blue Baker’s Dozen: thirteen high-impact startups selected for the BX6 cohort, joining their fellow 49 BX alumni, each dedicated to advancing innovative Bluetech solutions for a more resilient Blue Economy.
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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.
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North Atlantic Blue Economy Week Oct. 4-11, 2026
North Atlantic Blue Economy Week Oct. 4-11, 2026
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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First Ocean Access BlueTech Hub on the US Eastern Seaboard.
Blue Incubator proudly advancing Blue Economy innovation and dual-use technology since 2017.
- Novel: First Open Innovation BlueTech Cluster Hub on the US Eastern Seaboard.
- Focus: A dedicated one-to-three year hybrid platform designed specifically for high-growth early stage BlueTech startups
- Blue Vector cohort, TRL 4-6, accepting 10 startups only.
- Blue Horizon cohort, TRL 7-9, accepting 8 startups only.
- Eligibility: Restricted to startups
- Services:
- Bespoke curriculum, advising and mentorship
- Access to investors and industry experts
- Seed funding opportunities
- Dedicated support for product development and market entry
- Integration with the broader Blue Innovation Labs ecosystem
- Key Feature: Intensive wrap around services, funding opportunities, network connecting, prototyping & piloting support, and commercialization guidance for startups to accelerate their growth and achieve commercial success
- 30 Startups since 2017
- Startups have raised well over $30mil in Grants, Bootstrapping, Angels, VCs, and Acquisition
- Dual-Use Magnet
Applications for the new cohorts Blue Vector & Blue Horizon will open Q2 2026
Acoustic Intelligence: Listening Without Ears
How BLUEiQ and NOAA are Scaling Dual-Use Tech from Data to Real-World Solutions
From Sound to Solutions: Advancing Global Acoustic Intelligence
At Blue Innovation Labs, our mission is to bridge the gap between groundbreaking concepts and mission-ready deployment. The collaboration between BLUEiQ and NOAA—recently featured by NOAA’s Technology Partnership Office—perfectly illustrates this transition within our Blue Dual-Use Pipeline. By leveraging advanced acoustic technology to "listen without ears," BLUEiQ is helping NOAA unlock the mysteries of the sea, transforming raw underwater data into the actionable intelligence necessary for both sustainable ocean management and maritime security.
This initiative highlights the strength of the hybrid incubation model we have established on Boston Harbor and at Brunswick Landing, Maine. By combining the agility of a high-growth startup with the scientific excellence of a federal agency, this partnership serves as a premier case study for our Blue Sentinel (TRL 7-9) program. As BLUEiQ scales toward global application, it stands as proof that strategic public-private synergies are the key to solving the most complex challenges in the deep-tech sector.
Global Innovation: Advancing Wave Energy with Ukrtechno
Blue Innovation Labs is proud to highlight the progress of Ukrtechno, a groundbreaking startup from Dnipro that is redefining the intersection of coastal protection and renewable energy. Initially debuted at the U-Nation Startup & Innovation Conference, Ukrtechno’s Energy-Absorbing Breakwater system represents the high-impact, dual-use technology we champion. By converting sea wave energy into clean electricity while providing water desalination and erosion control, this project addresses critical resilience needs. To better serve the global market and leverage domestic energy initiatives, the team has established a U.S.-based arm, bridging the gap between Ukrainian engineering and American infrastructure.
The project’s trajectory underscores the power of international collaboration and strategic de-risking. Supported by the Regional Development Agency of Odesa Region and recently awarded grant funding from the UASEEDS "Seeds of Bravery" consortium under the Horizon Europe program, Ukrtechno is now moving into a pivotal pilot phase. This coastal research is a vital step in their growth, aligning perfectly with our mission to support startups from TRL 4 through commercialization. We are thrilled to see our partners within the global innovation ecosystem—and now within our own U.S. borders—accelerating such vital deep-tech solutions.
Moving forward together, Michael Lytovchenko and Michael Lytovchenko Jr., Yan Shapiro , Sergiy Kononenko
Under-Ice Energy: Powering Remote Alaskan Communities
Creek Tides and UAF Receive $1.5M DOE Grant to Advance Under-Ice Marine Hydrokinetic Technology
Advancing Resilience: Under-Ice Energy for the Arctic
Blue Innovation Labs is excited to highlight the groundbreaking work of Creek Tides Energy and Power, which is currently field-testing its Reactive Reversible Blade Turbine (RRBT) in the harsh environments of remote Alaska. In collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the Southwest Research Institute, this project was recently awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This partnership focuses on a critical gap in the renewable sector: generating reliable, small-scale electricity in frozen rivers to support off-grid applications where traditional energy sources often fail.
This initiative is a prime example of the high-stakes, dual-use technology we cultivate within our incubator. By developing a turbine specifically designed to operate under river ice, Creek Tides is not just advancing marine energy—it is providing a lifeline for remote communities seeking to reduce diesel dependency. As this technology moves through rigorous testing at the Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site, it represents a major milestone in our mission to scale TRL 4–9 solutions that solve real-world energy and climate challenges in the most demanding conditions on Earth.
Congratulations to 13 Mari and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines!
(Conceptual diagram of an composite element by 13 Mari)
InnovateMass/MassCEC funds testing
13 Mari of the Blue Incubator and the BX2 Cohort, received funding through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's InnovationMass program to prototype and pilot. Here in September 2024, 13 Mari Founder & CEO Krassi Fotev gives a reporting tour to the MassCEC Team. The InnovateMass funded pilot produced significant validation data.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines invests in 13 Mari
From left: MOL Dry Bulk Business Strategy Division General Manager Shinichi Asahina; 13 Mari Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Gaston Petrocelli; MOL Deputy Vice President Hirofumi Kamata; and 13 Mari Founder and Chief Executive Officer Krassimir Fotev
The ripple-shaped Flowsmart element developed by 13 Mari uses technology, which has been incorporated into the shape of aircraft wings and as aero parts for automobiles, and it is based on the concept of controlling the flow of water near the hull to reduce drag and bring out the original performance of the vessel. The company aims to improve the fuel efficiency of vessels and achieve stable navigation.
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scottish underwater robotics pioneer.
More HonuWorx News:
Investors dive in with seven-figure boost for Scots underwater robotics pioneer. A Scottish underwater robotics firm has received a seven-figure investment into its plans to revolutionize operations in the energy and security sectors. HonuWorx, based in Aberdeen, plans to dramatically slash costs and emissions for offshore repair and inspection work through its fleet of autonomous, all-electric submarines.
Meet our Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR)
Cvic Innocent, Ph.D.
Dr. C Innocent’s career is the development of innovations across the deep-tech, sustainability & De-Fi sectors, and so she draws upon her experience as an investor, a serial-entrepreneur/founder, and as a former researcher to support startups and small businesses through venture capital. Dr. Innocent is CoFounder of Estate Protocol, a Partner in Build Ventures Africa, is the FinTech Investment Chair & on the Board of Directors for Erez Capital (a Boston-based VC firm, recent Yahoo!Finance news) and is the General Partner for Frankenbuild Ventures – a VC firm focused on founders building hardtech in extreme environments for sustainability. Here, she brings unique insight in evaluating both the viability of technologies as well as market readiness for innovative technologies, and so she is excited to serve as a part-time Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Blue Innovation Labs. Previously, her history of supporting small business owners includes a 1-year role as Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce, as well as a long-lived and continued dedication to being a startup mentor in several startup accelerators (eg;- Harvard Innovation Labs, Techstars, MassChallenge, Gener8tor, etc...). As an EIR, Cvic is excited to lend her experience to founders looking to validate the potential impact of their promising scientific and engineering discoveries for the betterment of the ocean, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. Lastly, she has worked for NASA (2007-2009), was educated at Cornell University and Oxford University, was research faculty at Harvard Medical School, is a 2019 Chan-Zuckerberg Innovation Award Winner, and notes that the journey all started at Kingsborough Community College as a 1st generation US-born child of Haitian immigrants.
