The Blue Economy and Innovation Act authorizes the National Science Foundation to establish a competitive grant program focused on advancing ocean science and improving research related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters. The grants would support several types of activities, including basic research to better understand these water systems, development and testing of innovative technologies and solutions to address environmental challenges, workforce development through education and training programs, and repairs or upgrades to research facilities and equipment. The program encourages partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, state and tribal governments, and regional innovation hubs to tackle these challenges. The bill does not specify a total funding amount or timeline, but requires the NSF director to ensure that grants for infrastructure improvements are distributed across a balanced range of research facilities. This legislation aims to strengthen scientific capacity and innovation in the ocean and coastal economy while engaging affected communities in finding solutions.
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