How South Florida Is Building a Global Blue Economy Hub | Phil Purcell & Bob Swindell

South Florida is already known as the yachting and boating capital of the world, but could it also become one of the world’s leading centers for blue economy innovation, marine research, and ocean resilience solutions?

In this episode of The Blue Economy with Katherine O’Fallon, Katherine sits down with Phil Purcell, President & CEO of the Marine Industries Assoc. South Florida, and Bob Swindell, President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

Together they share the story behind the creation of the Marine Research Hub of South Florida and why collaboration between universities, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers is critical to accelerating marine innovation and real-world solutions.

What began as a conversation around the global influence of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) evolved into a much bigger vision: positioning South Florida as a global center for ocean research, marine technology, and blue economy growth.

This conversation explores:

• How the Marine Research Hub of South Florida was created
 • Why South Florida is uniquely positioned to lead the blue economy
 • The role of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in global marine influence
 • How Ocean Exchange helps accelerate ocean innovation and marine startups
 • Why commercialization is essential to turning marine research into real-world solutions
 • The growing importance of coastal resilience, infrastructure, and water quality
 • Why the business community must play a role in scaling ocean innovation
 • How South Florida can become a global testbed for blue economy technologies

As climate challenges, ocean health, and coastal resilience become increasingly urgent, conversations like this highlight why marine science, economic development, and industry leadership must work together.

🎙️ Guests
Phil Purcell – President & CEO, Marine Industries Assoc. South Florida
Bob Swindell – President & CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

🎙️ Host
Katherine O’Fallon

🌊 The Blue Economy Podcast is powered by the Marine Research Hub of South Florida, a collaborative initiative advancing ocean research, innovation, and resilience solutions.

Learn more:
 https://marineresearchhub.org

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