AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles today announced that Valparaíso, Chile, has become the fifth global ocean innovation community to join its Deep Blue Decade Initiative, expanding its international network of communities advancing ocean-based climate solutions across the globe.
As part of the expansion, AltaSea has signed a Letter of Understanding with EIVA to connect the blue economy ecosystems of Los Angeles and Valparaíso and support the development of the BluePort Innovation Hub, a planned physical hub for climate and blue economy innovation within the broader Valparaíso BluePort Region strategy. The partnership will foster knowledge exchange, international connections and collaboration across areas including ocean-related research, entrepreneurship, talent and workforce development, technology transfer, and pilot projects.
“Valparaíso has the ingredients to become one of the world’s leading blue economy innovation communities with a major working port, strong universities and research institutions, entrepreneurs, and direct access to the Pacific Ocean,” said Terry Tamminen, President & CEO of AltaSea. “AltaSea has spent more than a decade building an ecosystem at the Port of Los Angeles that brings science, business, education, and investment together around the ocean. This partnership gives us the opportunity to share what we have learned while creating a two-way bridge between innovators in Chile and Los Angeles.”
The BluePort Innovation Hub is being developed as a place where new technologies can move from research into real-world testing and, ultimately, the marketplace. Areas of focus include port decarbonization, ocean resilience, sustainable maritime industries, climate technology, workforce development and entrepreneurship. It is currently in the concept and pre-feasibility stage.
Under the partnership, AltaSea will provide strategic and technical guidance based on its experience developing its 35-acre ocean innovation campus at the Port of Los Angeles. AltaSea will share best practices, governance models, operational approaches and lessons learned to help guide the development of the BluePort Innovation Hub. AltaSea will also help connect BluePort with companies, universities, researchers, investors, and philanthropic partners in its global network.
“Valparaíso has a unique opportunity to become a leading hub for climate and blue economy innovation in the South Pacific,” said María José Escobar, President of EIVA. “Through the BluePort Innovation Hub, we want to create a space where our regional capabilities in science, entrepreneurship, industry and talent can come together, connect with international networks, and turn innovation into solutions with real-world impact. Our partnership with AltaSea brings invaluable experience and global connections to help us build that vision.”
EIVA will lead coordination and development of the BluePort Innovation Hub with regional stakeholders, including public institutions, universities and industry partners. The partners will also explore pilot project and technology exchanges between Chile and the United States, student and workforce programs, sponsored research, and joint efforts to attract investment.
The partnership builds on AltaSea’s Deep Blue Decade Initiative, launched to take lessons learned in Los Angeles and connect ocean innovation communities around the world. Valparaíso becomes the initiative’s fifth community, joining work already underway in Jordan, Indonesia, Tanzania and Tonga.
Highlights from the Deep Blue Decade Initiative:
- Aqaba, Jordan: AltaSea is supporting work around coral restoration, aquaculture, and ocean technology, in partnership with Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau’s Voyacy Regen.
- Indonesia: AltaSea is advancing sustainable kelp aquaculture, coral reef restoration, and renewable energy.
- Zanzibar, Tanzania: AltaSea and its partners are working on economic opportunities in regenerative kelp aquaculture, in partnership with the UNDP and the UN Joint SDG Fund Secretariat.
- Tonga: AltaSea is supporting researchers studying natural ocean systems, including hydrothermal vents, to better understand the potential for marine carbon removal.
“Each Deep Blue Decade community has different assets, different challenges, and different opportunities, but the underlying idea is the same: connect local talent and infrastructure to a global ecosystem that can help ocean solutions move faster,” said Tamminen. “With Valparaíso becoming our fifth community, we are halfway toward creating a global network where a breakthrough developed in Los Angeles, Chile, Jordan, Indonesia, Tanzania, or Tonga can be shared, tested, and scaled across borders.”
Editor’s Note: Photos for use can be found here.
About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles
AltaSea is a 35-acre ocean innovation campus based at the Port of Los Angeles, North America’s busiest seaport. With 180,000 sq. ft. of renovated facilities, 4,500 linear feet of dock space, and its Center of Innovation, AltaSea brings together leading scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, and community stakeholders to advance ocean-based solutions, grow the blue economy, and inspire the next generation.
For more information, visit www.altasea.org.
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