When: Wednesday, September 30 – Friday, October 2, 2026

Where: Portland, Maine

About the Event

Maine Blue Economy Week will convene entrepreneurs, funders, researchers, students, and ecosystem shaping the future of Maine’s ocean and coastal economy.

Over three days, the event will feature programming designed to build connections, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration around emerging trends in blue economy investment, entrepreneurship, workforce training, and cross-sector innovation. It will highlight Maine’s unique strengths as a hub for ocean innovation and focus on strengthening collaboration to advance sustainable economic development across Maine’s marine sectors.

Maine Blue Economy Week is presented through a cooperative collaboration with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the University of Maine, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and The Roux Institute at Northeastern University.

Attendees may include startup founders, researchers, aquaculture operators, seafood businesses, investors, lenders, workforce organizations and other professionals working across Maine’s ocean Economy.

What to Expect

• Build relationships with entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, business owners and industry leaders from across Maine’s ocean economy.
• Gain insight into emerging trends, investment opportunities and commercialization pathways.
• Explore partnership opportunities with companies, researchers, investors and service providers.
• Connect with potential customers, collaborators, funders and business partners.
• Experience Maine’s working waterfront, research institutions and innovation assets.

Who Should Attend

• Industry + Startup Stakeholders (including aquaculture operators, seafood businesses and marine technology companies)
• Investors + Lenders/Funders
• Academic & Research Community
• Corporate Leaders & Strategic Partners
• Service Providers, Business Partners & Organizations Interested in the Blue Economy