Old Dominion University Research Foundation

Old Dominion University (ODU), the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the College of William and Mary have partnered to create the OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub. The Hub will serve as a catalyst and convener for innovative concepts related to all aspects of living and working on and near the water and it will be heavily focused on three industry clusters – maritime, shipping and logistics; aquaculture and fisheries; and flood mitigation and resilience.

Despite its strategic geographical advantages, Norfolk remains one of the world’s most vulnerable cities to sea level rise. As a result, the region has an overwhelming need for innovative solutions around living and working with the water. Yet the Hampton Roads region and Commonwealth of Virginia experience very little new firm creation in the maritime cluster each year. OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub seeks to fill this gap in the regional ecosystem. The Hub will focus on firm creation and expansion, industry-specific education, and networking events to jumpstart and streamline the regional cluster activity.