A new initiative in Maine is aiming to accelerate the commercialisation of marine biotechnology, bringing together international startups working to transform ocean resources into market-ready products.
The world’s first blue biotech innovation studio has officially launched at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine. The programme is organised by Hatch Blue in partnership with the laboratory and supported by the Maine Technology Institute.
The studio brings together ten startup teams from the United States, Norway, Canada and Germany, each developing technologies across areas including algae innovation, aquaculture health, biomaterials and marine circularity.
Participants include Maine-based companies such as Salmonics, which is developing fish-derived biomedical materials from aquaculture by-products, and Atlantic Blue Bio, which plans to establish a kelp biorefinery producing high-purity fucoidan and alginate.
During the programme, founders will work alongside scientists, industry mentors and investors while exploring Maine’s marine research and seafood processing infrastructure. The goal is to refine technologies and business models and prepare companies for commercial growth.
“What’s particularly exciting about this program is that it’s the first studio of its kind focused specifically on blue biotechnology,” said Dylan Terry, studio director at Hatch Blue.
“We’ve brought together a really strong group of companies working across algae innovation, aquaculture health, biomaterials and marine circularity. The aim is to give these founders the time, mentorship and industry connections needed to help turn promising marine technologies into scalable companies.”
Although the in-person programme runs for several weeks, participating startups will receive up to nine months of follow-on mentorship and commercial support aimed at helping them attract investment.
The initiative will culminate in a Blue Biotech Investor Summit in Portland, where the companies will present their technologies to investors and industry partners.
“Maine is emerging as the nation’s testbed for blue biotechnology innovation and startups,” said Beth Orcutt, vice president for research at Bigelow Laboratory.
“There’s a real energy in the room as founders connect with mentors, interact with resources and support in Maine and identify areas where they can engage and form partnerships.”
