Location: UNCW Burney Center

Organized by: UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Alliance for the Blue Economy (All Blue)

“The real voyage of discovery consists not so much in seeking new territory, but possibly in having new sets of eyes.” – Marcel Proust

Thought leaders, innovators, and change makers will gather today to think about our ocean and waterways.

From climate change to overfishing to pollution, there are many problems to be addressed to protect our ocean. Earlier this year, more than 190 countries came together to sign a treaty to protect our ocean life. Entrepreneurs, universities, and government are focusing on “what’s next” in protecting the ocean.

But even greater than that, we must protect our ocean and waterways to protect our community and the happiness, creativity, and romance that water provides for us as individuals.

Attend this conference to explore how Southeast North Carolina and others are embracing the opportunity to protect our ocean. We will reflect on current ocean trends and challenges and grow the local economy and improve livelihoods by protecting the ocean and increasing innovation. Throughout the day, there will be discussions of our blue ecosystem in the region, advancements in ocean-based innovation and technology, opportunities for investment in these innovations, and endeavors to preserve the precious resources of our oceans.

Conversations will touch on our region’s efforts to build our blue ecosystem, new ocean-related innovation and technology and investment opportunities available for these innovations, and efforts being made to sustain the valuable resources of our ocean.