mosphere, and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Economic Development shall coordinate with each Ocean 
Innovation Cluster in the following areas of focus: 
(1) Increasing pathways for new entrants into 
the Blue Economy for individuals and entities. 
(2) Intellectual property management. 
(3) Enhancing the sustainability of seafood sup-
ply chains, including with respect to food, transpor-
tation, processing, health and beauty products, ani-
mal feed, medical biotechnology, bioplastics, biofuels, 
and other value-added products, to strive for full use 
of harvested natural resources. 
(4) Providing significant and sustainable eco-
nomic opportunity through advanced research, cross- 
sector science, and technology development. 
(5) Contributing new knowledge, processes, 
technology, and support for stakeholders in the Blue 
Economy, especially to advance sustainability in spe-
cific sectors. 
(6) Working with Federal, State, local, and 
Tribal agencies to clearly communicate laws, regula-
tions, and agency practices affecting industry needs, 
planning, or growth opportunities. 
(7) Creating investable opportunities through 
the development of economies of scale to enhance 
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growth opportunities, job creation, sustainability, 
and expansion for small businesses within the Blue 
Economy. 
(8) Workforce development and training, busi-
ness planning, identifying existing and needed tech-
nology and economic infrastructure, and coordinated 
research and development among small businesses, 
government, and industry. 
(9) Research, development, and implementation 
of ocean energy, bioprospecting, and other innovative 
and sustainable ocean resource development endeav-
ors. 
(i) OCEAN INNOVATION CENTERS FOR CROSS-SEC-
TOR COLLABORATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to foster collabora-
tion and innovation and strengthen regional ocean 
sector economies while creating employment oppor-
tunities, the Director of Sea Grant, the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Eco-
nomic Development shall collaborate with cross-sec-
tor partners to jointly develop or designate at least 
1 physical space for collaboration as an Ocean Inno-
vation Center for Cross-Sector Collaboration within 
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each of the 7 regions with an Ocean Innovation 
Cluster. 
(2) MANAGEMENT.—An Ocean Innovation Clus-
ter or a group of Ocean Innovation Clusters shall 
manage the Ocean Innovation Center for Cross-Sec-
tor Collaboration of the region in which the Cluster 
or Clusters is located. 
(3) FUNCTIONS.—Each Ocean Innovation Cen-
ter for Cross-Sector Collaboration shall— 
(A) serve as a hub for partners within 
Ocean Innovation Clusters to work toward the 
areas of focus in described in subsection (h); 
(B) support a community of entrepreneurs 
focused on strengthening vibrant marine-de-
pendent communities and the Blue Economy; 
(C) create workspaces and laboratories de-
signed to promote collaboration, including 
through shared meeting rooms, access to tech-
nology, common spaces, and offices; 
(D) strengthen relationships among indus-
try sectors through shared scientific, staffing, 
and business resources; 
(E) develop the critical networks with 
cross-sector partners that entrepreneurs need to 
grow effectively; and 
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(F) develop the next generation of Blue 
Economy workers by providing internships, ap-
prenticeships, or training, as appropriate, in-
cluding for underrepresented and Tribal com-
munities and local trade schools. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTERS. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 31. GRANTS FOR OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Director of Sea Grant, the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and the Assist-
ant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, 
may award grants, on a competitive basis, to Ocean Inno-
vation Clusters for the purposes described in subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The Secretary may award grants 
under subsection (a) for the operation and administration 
of one or more Ocean Innovation Clusters under the Ocean 
Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025, with 
the goal that Ocean Innovation Clusters will become mem-
bership-based, self-sustaining entities. 
‘‘(c) INPUT.—In awarding a grant under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for input 
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from the Director of Sea Grant, the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and the Assist-
ant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. 
‘‘(d) TERM OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term of a grant award-
ed under subsection (a) shall be 2 years. 
‘‘(2) RENEWAL.—The Secretary may renew a 
grant awarded under subsection (a) for additional 
periods of such duration as the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate and necessary for the Ocean Inno-
vation Cluster that received the grant to provide re-
gional economic benefits. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATIONS ON GRANT AMOUNTS.—A grant 
awarded 
under 
subsection 
(a) 
may 
not 
exceed 
$10,000,000. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to award 
grants under subsection (a) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DIRECTOR OF SEA GRANT.—The term ‘Di-
rector of Sea Grant’ means the Director of the Na-
tional Sea Grant College Program appointed under 
section 204(d)(1) of the National Sea Grant College 
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(1)). 
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‘‘(2) OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTER.—The term 
‘Ocean Innovation Cluster’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 2 of the Ocean Regional Oppor-
tunity and Innovation Act of 2025.’’. 
Æ 
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