Research Overview
Research Planning
The Secretariat will lead research planning for the USCMI in conjunction with MARAD, including developing and maintaining a multi-year research agenda and annual research plans that are mutually informed by government and industry input. To make this a reality, MARAD and the Secretariat will maintain a continually updated, multi-year research agenda highlighting priorities synthesized from extensive stakeholder input. The Secretariat works with MARAD to scope and structure a portfolio of specific projects each year in alignment with (1) agreed upon strategic research priorities and (2) available funding for projects.
Assigning Research Projects
The USCMI seeks to engage research partners and other stakeholders in creative ways to provide the most flexibility in encouraging and supporting innovation in the maritime industry. Project research tasks may be performed in various ways: (1) Projects awarded through competitive processes and led by single organizations or combinations of organizations, (2) Projects led by the Secretariat and engaging multiple organizations in collaborative research or demonstrations, and (3) Direct assignment of projects to specific organizations or combinations of organizations to leverage unity capabilities or existing work.
Executing Research Projects
Project research tasks may be performed in various ways: (1) Projects led by the Secretariat and engaging multiple organizations in collaborative research or demonstrations, (2) Projects awarded through competitive processes and led by single organizations or combinations of organizations, and (3) Direct assignment of projects to specific organizations or combinations of organizations to leverage unity capabilities or existing work.
Overseeing Research Projects
For each project approved by MARAD for execution, the Secretariat will use established procedures to issue and manage project subawards. A Secretariat project monitor assigned to oversee the project for the USCMI (technically and financially). Across the research portfolio, the Secretariat provides MARAD with a quarterly report on research progress.
Transferring Research Knowledge Results
Because the USCMI has a primary goal of developing and sharing best practices for enhancing maritime system performance and adopting other types of maritime innovation technologies, technology transfer support is an important activity. To promote technology transfer from the research conducted through the USCMI, the Secretariat will drive a range of technology transfer actions. The goal is to maintain a high level of visibility for MARAD and the USCMI as well as share the key information that will help the industry advance.
Hosting Maritime Innovation Events and Workshop
The USCMI will foster conversations and collaboration that help drive maritime innovation. We anticipate that the USCMI will host various types of events and workshops in support of MARAD or other agencies, including in-person workshops and workshops as well as all types of online and hybrid meetings and workshops as appropriate. Additionally, we will seek opportunities for the USCMI to host maritime innovation topics at events from other organizations such as industry association events, professional society events, coalition events, events hosted by other academic and professional organizations, and events with maritime schools and training organizations.
Leveraging and Supporting Maritime Education Programs
MARAD is particularly interested in its efforts to help prepare the current and next generation of mariners for the changes that are coming to the maritime industry. New technology can only be successful if the workforce is equipped to work with the new technology.