Greentown Labs, a cleantech incubator in North America, and Vineyard Wind, the developer of the first utility-scale offshore wind energy generation facility in the U.S., are now accepting applications for the Offshore Wind Challenge. The two organizations are seeking submissions from startups innovating in marine mammal monitoring, either surrounding data collection and real-time transmission or data analysis.
Startups selected to participate in the program will benefit from mentorship, networking opportunities, educational workshops and partnership-focused programming through Greentown Launch, a six-month partnership acceleration program for startups provided by Greentown Labs. Within this framework, the Offshore Wind Challenge will help startups explore potential partnership outcomes with Vineyard Wind. Furthermore, participants will receive membership, including desk space, at Greentown Labs for the duration of the program.
Both Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the New England Aquarium are working with Greentown Labs to support the challenge.
WHOI wants to “make it possible to invent and build the technologies that drive discovery, and world-class marine operations that offer extraordinary access to the sea," said Rick Murray, WHOI's deputy director and VP for research, in the release.
"Many of the species that regularly use the wind energy areas off the coast of Massachusetts are either experiencing significant population decline or are endangered, including the North Atlantic right whale. That means we need to be extra conscious of the project's human impact," added Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium, in the press release.
Applications for the Offshore Wind Challenge are due by May 31 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Interested innovators and entrepreneurs can learn more about the call for applications by visiting the Vineyard Wind website. Applicants are encouraged to attend the program kickoff event at Greentown Labs' headquarters in Somerville, MA, on July 22.