Maturing the Ocean Enterprise: MTS Unveils Dialogues with Industry Roadmap

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) proudly announces the release of the Dialogues with Industry Roadmap, a groundbreaking collaboration involving MTS, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and industry representatives.

This Roadmap is a significant step towards advancing a robust Ocean Enterprise that is essential to lives and livelihoods and contributes to the global Gross Domestic Product.

Dr. Emma Heslop, Program Specialist at GOOS IOC/UNESCO, underscores the significance of this joint effort, stating, “The Dialogues with Industry Roadmap mark new pathways for industry and the public sector to collaborate in solving key issues that inhibit the development of an expanded ocean observing system that can deliver the ocean data society will need tomorrow.”

Developed over the past year, the Roadmap identifies 26 high-priority action pathways across three key areas: Improving the Marketplace, Collaboration for Societal/Governmental Change, and Shaping the Future. MTS past president Zdenka Willis highlights MTS’s pivotal role, stating, “Through active engagement and collaboration within these key domains, MTS is dedicated to contributing its expertise to foster positive transformation within the Ocean Enterprise, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, collaboration, and innovation.”

(Image credit: MTS)

MTS, GOOS, and NOAA, along with representatives from Kongsberg Discovery and L3Harris invite all stakeholders in the Ocean Enterprise, spanning public, private, and academic sectors, to join forces in accelerating the Roadmap’s implementation. Chris Ostrander, CEO of MTS, emphasizes the collective impact, stating, “By collaborating as an enterprise, we can amplify our collective voices and influence the trajectory of the Ocean Enterprise, while also promoting blue investment strategies.”

As the initiative progresses into 2024, the organizations plan to develop a strategy for implementation and reporting on high-level actions. They commit to releasing an annual Ocean Enterprise Report to transparently track progress and highlight achievements. The emphasis remains on accelerating actions identified by the ocean observing community in the flagship Dialogue series and collaborating to find innovative solutions for tackling the ocean’s most pressing challenges.

Financial support from NOAA under the Inflation Reduction Act supports this effort to advance the Ocean Enterprise.

To access the Dialogues with Industry Roadmap, visit mtsociety.org/goos-mts-dialogues-with-industry.

For more information on the Dialogues with Industry, please visit the MTS and GOOS websites.