Plymouth: all about the marine angle

As host of the annual Marine Tech Expo and developer of the UK’s first Marine Enterprise Zone, the Devon city of Plymouth offers significant maritime opportunities  

Key players in the world of ‘blue technology’ will come together at Plymouth’s second Marine Tech Expo when it is held at Plymouth University on June 21 this year. 

Designed to show off the South Coast’s global marine credentials in the lead-up to 2020’s Mayflower 400 celebrations, the event will inform visitors about the marine sector, knowledge base and collaboration opportunities that exist in Plymouth and its surrounding area in the UK. The day, which will focus on marine autonomy, boasts a programme of networking opportunities, talks, exhibitors and live demonstrations. Organised by Plymouth City Council, the event aims to boost the amount and scale of blue tech companies in Plymouth, the South West and the South Coast, as well as showcasing the talents of marine technology firms already present in the South West and the city. 

Attendees to the event will be able to watch talks from 34 different speakers, network with company directors, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs and enjoy the presence of a wide range of marine technology sector exhibitors. Demonstrations taking place in the event’s exhibition area will immerse visitors in conversations about design, application and market opportunities related to the marine technology field. The day will also offer a networking event with West Country food and the chance to tour a historic port used by explorers such as Sir Francis Drake. 

The event comes following the success of the first Marine Tech Expo, which was held in Plymouth in 2016. 2018’s event will focus on autonomous marine platforms and their applications, cyber security and the use of data, systems and sensors. Organisers of this year’s exhibition are specifically targeting delegates to maximise the networking opportunities on offer to visitors. 

“Plymouth’s first Marine Tech Expo in 2016 was a huge success, and this year will be no different, with the event programme specifically designed to support marine businesses to innovate, create a competitive edge and ultimately grow — creating high value, knowledge-based jobs,” says Professor John Chudley, Marine Tech Expo programme director. “It provides a real opportunity to network with other key decision-makers and keep up to date with the latest industry innovations.” 

Plymouth is also the home of the UK’s first Marine Enterprise Zone, Oceansgate, with Phase 1 of the development involving the creation of office and industrial space totalling 2,600m², with room for up to 21 businesses. The new buildings, Endeavour House and Endeavour Court, were formally opened in early April. Surejust, Trend Marine and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be the first companies to move into the zone, which is being developed on disused Ministry of Defence land in South Yard in the Plymouth district of Devonport. 

“As Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth is home to a huge variety of marine businesses and is the perfect location for the country’s first Marine Enterprise Zone,” says Patrick Hartop, Head of City Deal at Plymouth City Council. “The new and innovative Oceansgate development has been designed with marine businesses in mind.” 

For more information about June’s Marine Tech Expo, visit https://www.marinetechexpo.co.uk

To find out more about Oceansgate, go to www.oceansgateplymouth.com