Cluster of maritime-related companies and organizations
San Diego’s “Blue Tech” cluster is making waves. And like a high tide, the powerful “Blue Economy” is raising a lot of boats. What is the “Blue Economy?” It has been defined as the sum of all economic activity having to do with oceans, seas, harbors, ports and coastal zones. San Diego’s “Blue Economy” includes a growing cluster of maritime-related companies and organizations across 16 industry sectors including fish farming, desalination and clean water technology, subsea exploration, biomedicine, defense, marine recreation and ocean observation.
San Diego has a significant defense presence, particularly with the Navy and Marine Corps. There are major defense and academic research facilities such as the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Command (SPAWAR), and the University of California – San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
There are many factors that contribute to the success and cohesion of this commercial community. First and foremost is the ocean, itself. The cluster of both suppliers and customers mean that buyers, sellers and users are in close proximity with each other to facilitate collaboration. San Diego is an area with a number of world-class universities and research organizations, and has a deep pool of available and qualified talent.
Location is Everything
Marine technology companies, large and small, benefit from the Blue Tech cluster. San Diego-based SIDUS Solutions has 15 employees and definitely sees itself as part of the Blue Tech Community.
According to Leonard Pool, managing director for SIDUS Solutions, being located in the San Diego Blue Tech community has real benefits. “San Diego is a unique community that has grown since the mid-50s to specialize in subsea applications, initially for military activities. It is due to this history, the available access to local community colleges, along with the coastal environment that we selected San Diego to be our home.”
“The largest advantage is the ability to be close with our peers,” Pool says, “and the ability to go surfing on the weekends.”
SIDUS designs and manufactures security and surveillance systems for subsea and hazardous areas, and offers engineering and technical services for custom projects and integrated systems. SIDUS’ main office is located in San Diego, where all engineering and manufacturing are performed. “We also maintain a sales office in Houston, Texas to help support our oil and gas customers. In addition we have a partnership with a company in the Netherlands,” says Pool.