Membership
The Maritime Alliance has been working on behalf of the maritime technology industry in the San Diego region since January 2006, organizing events, raising awareness, highlighting business opportunities, showcasing technology innovation and “promoting Blue Tech & Blue Jobs.” Our outreach has occurred throughout the community, at all levels of government across the U.S. and to clusters around the globe. Foremost, we exist to serve you and the interests of the maritime technology industry.
Fulfilling our mission includes the following:
Events:
With sponsors and partners, TMA hosts periodic events where developers and providers of technology can come together with end-users to understand each other’s capabilities, collaborate, foster innovation, and advance the industry.
Trade Missions:
By hosting periodic missions in search of technology or partnerships, TMA provides its members additional sales and marketing opportunities. In 2011, eleven local companies were invited to present in front of USTDA-sponsored reverse trade missions from Morocco, Jordan and Colombia looking for port and maritime security and vessel tracking management system technologies.
Outreach
Since its inception, TMA has sought to raise awareness and educate the community about the importance and value of the maritime technology industry. We have targeted legislators and officials at every level. In 2010, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) added Marine Technology to the list of 23 export industries it specifically supports. In 2011, the SD Regional Economic Development Corp. included maritime as one of the five industries key to the region’s economic growth.
Funding
As a nonprofit, TMA can access resources and apply for grants and other funding opportunities on behalf of the industry. In February 2012, TMA in cooperation with the Center for International Trade Development submitted a proposal for a Market Development Cooperator Program through the ITA. This program would directly benefit maritime technology companies by providing funding and other resources to help them export into markets in Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and Turkey.
Research
Through relationships with a variety of economic development, government, academic, military, and international organizations, TMA has access to vast resources, libraries and catalogs of information, research and studies. Our goal is to facilitate delivery of or access to that information which is of value to our members. We also have the ability with some partners to influence how and where government resources might get allocated in terms of industry analysis and workforce development.