DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire will host Marine Innovation Day Thursday, July 27, 2017, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Victory Club at Wildcat Stadium, to promote innovation and industry/university collaboration by providing companies with direct access to UNH researchers working in the same field. It is free to attend but registration is required.

Marine Innovation Day is designed to help companies and researchers identify and develop potential projects and partnerships, solve business challenges, and accelerate scientific innovation in marine-related research and technology. Activities will include a research sandpit - speed dating style, an expo of UNH marine-related research and business resources, and a presentation by Michael Jones, president of The Maritime Alliance, who will speak about “The Blue Economy.” Tours of UNH’s acoustic waveform test tanks and Data Visualization Research Lab will also be offered. There will be various opportunities for researchers and industry attendees to connect throughout the day, including a networking social hour that will highlight student research projects.

“UNH has expertise in ocean engineering, seafloor mapping, data visualization, sonar capabilities/acoustics, aquaculture, fishing and barrier technologies, ocean invasive species, tidal energy, and more,” said Ellen Christo, senior director of strategic partnerships at UNH. “We know that many local companies could benefit from that expertise in their pursuits to innovate and commercialize new ideas. UNH Marine Innovation Day will give UNH the opportunity to showcase its resources, labs, and marine-related research with the goal of building business/academic partnerships that result in commercialization and economic development.”

The UNH Marine Innovation Day is administered by UNHInnovation in partnership with NH High Tech Council and The New England Council.