About Us
Background
San Diego is recognized today as one of the leading maritime technology centers in the world. The Maritime Alliance (TMA) is the organizer of the maritime cluster in San Diego and reaching out internationally through a growing number of international relationships. SD’s maritime presence on the national and international stage is bolstered by prestigious research institutions such as Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, National Polytechnic College of Science, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), SDSU Coastal Waters Laboratory, and SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific. The US Navy has long played a key role in San Diego’s economy – for example, it was the Navy’s need for constantly improving wireless communications that led to SD’s preeminence in telecommunications. The Navy has also played an enormous role in the development of the maritime industry.
TMA has identified over 180 maritime technology companies and organizations, which are a fast growing part of the over 1,400 maritime related companies in the San Diego region. TMA organizes a number of events focused on maritime technology in the course of the year culminating in the BlueTech & Blue Economy Summit in the Fall.
About
The Maritime Alliance (TMA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit industry association, whose mission is Promoting BlueTech and Blue Jobs®. TMA is the cluster organizer of the San Diego maritime technology community and fosters maritime business and technology innovation through collaboration around the U.S. and the world.
We believe in creating BlueTech and Blue Jobs by promoting sustainable, science-based ocean industries. To accomplish this, we create an important Blue Voice via unique events, information sharing, national & international outreach, networking, research, and workforce development.
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.
You can read our Presidents Message here.