About Ocean Enterprise Initiative
A Collaborative Initiative
The Ocean Enterprise Initiative is a flagship program of the Marine Technology Society (MTS), and is a collaborative global effort advancing innovation, economic growth, and cross-sector collaboration across the Ocean Enterprise.
The Ocean Enterprise Initiative convenes leaders from industry, academia, government, nonprofits, and research organizations to strengthen the Ocean Enterprise as an investable and connected market. Through global partnerships, executive leadership, and engagement across 55+ countries, the Ocean Enterprise Initiative transforms ocean science, technology, and innovation into real world impact.
Mission Statement
Grow the ocean observing system through better public-private partnerships by creating a globally inclusive forum to understand market opportunities, incentivize ocean solution innovation, facilitate data and information exchange, develop a workforce, and proliferate scalable technology to achieve benefits for all stakeholders of the Ocean Enterprise.
Vision Statement
A flourishing Ocean Enterprise that is recognized as an integral market sector, grows a sustained ocean observing system, and changes the perception of ocean information from peripheral to essential to society.
Program Background
The Ocean Enterprise Initiative is a foundational program of the Marine Technology Society, launched in 2023 through a collaborative agreement with NOAA to support innovation, connectivity, and economic growth across the Ocean Enterprise.
Ocean Enterprise Initiative grew from the success of Dialogues with Industry, which convened leaders from industry, government, academia, and the broader ocean community, including partners such as GOOS, Kongsberg Discovery, and L3Harris, around a shared vision for the future of ocean observation and technology.
Building on the recommendations outlined in the Dialogues with Industry Roadmap, Ocean Enterprise Initiative translates strategy into action through programs, partnerships, and initiatives that expand market opportunities, accelerate technology adoption, and support long-term growth across the Ocean Enterprise.
Defining the Ocean Enterprise
The Ocean Enterprise includes all entities—public, priviate, non-profit, research, and academic—that provide infrastructure and capacity for ocean observation, measurement, and forecasting or deliver operational ocean information product and services.
