The New
Economic Wave

Massachusetts Marine Science & Technology Industry Cluster Gathers Force

FALMOUTH - The exchange of ideas was fast and furious at the February 6, 2006, meeting of the Governing Board of the John Adams Innovation Institute. Chancellor Jean MacCormack of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and President Robert Gagosian of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution shared their visions for the emerging Marine Science & Technology industry cluster.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution President Robert Gagosian and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Chancellor Jean MacCormack meet with Governing Board members to discuss the potential of marine science.

The two engaged in an exploratory dialogue with Innovation Institute Governing Board members about how best to shape the future development of an industry cluster that depends greatly upon the collaborative research of the two institutions and universities throughout Massachusetts.

Gagosian and MacCormack were joined by colleagues Brian Rothschild, Director of UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology, Henrik Schmidt, Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering at MIT, Jim Luyten, Executive Vice President at WHOI, and Michael Goodman of the Donahue Institute at UMass.

According to Gagosian, the potential economic benefits from increasing the predictive capability as a result of ocean exploration and research were enormous: hundreds of millions each annually in the recreation, commercial fishing, defense and homeland security sectors, and tens of millions each in the health & safety, transportation, and energy sectors.

What emerged from the discussion at the Governing Board meeting was a rough consensus on the economic value of creating a network of coastal observation centers—wired and “wireless” research laboratories at sea, populated with newly developed devices.

An in-situ mass spectrometer, for instance, can rapidly detect and “fingerprint” trace amounts (parts per billion) of dissolved chemicals in real time. From naturally occurring petroleum seeps to broken sewer mains, from pollution caused by chemical spills to illegal dumping, this instrument can pinpoint the source to within a couple of meters. It is scheduled for commercialization in 2008.

Another device under development is an underwater vehicle, also slated for commercialization in the very near future. The port of Singapore, the largest port in the world, recently purchased two of these vehicles, at a cost of about $500,000 each. Given the increased need for security around shipping, the underwater vehicles have the potential to increase the ability of ports to observe ships for potential security issues without the same kind of slowdown security measures now entail enhanced accuracy of measurements of coastal and ocean waters can both enhance use of ocean resources, or avoid harm that may come from oceanic or atmospheric phenomena.

“We can detect the outbreak of harmful algal blooms, but we have not been able to predict them,” said Dr. Gagosian, “Better predictive capabilities would improve our ability to appropriately open or close beaches and shellfish beds, and predict red tide affects on fisheries.”

Dr. MacCormack said that the scientific ability to create more accurate measurements of the scallop population generated millions of dollars in fishing revenues for the scallop fleet in New Bedford.

As part of the discussion at the Governing Board meeting, there was also a consensus reached that there needed to be a steering committee created to act as a “call to implementation” to help guide the collaborative efforts.

Governing Board member Dr. Joan Reede of Harvard University raised the issue of workforce development as a key ingredient in growing the emerging cluster. Scientists and economists alike agreed that there was a significant need to develop initiatives to increase the skill level in the region for the high-level technicians needed.

 "The Marine Science & Technology industry cluster represents a tremendous opportunity for economic growth in southeastern Massachusetts and for the entire Commonwealth," said Ranch Kimball, Secretary of Economic Development.  “By continuing to work closely together, businesses and research universities involved in marine science and technology can help create new jobs and market opportunities.”