Frequently Asked Questions
About DeepTech: Mission, Scope, & Vision
DeepTech is WHOI's new initiative to accelerate innovation and improve collisions in ocean research, design, and education. DeepTech provides a framework of training, funding, and other resources to build greater capacity for WHOI staff to develop programs and projects that are difficult to do with existing infrastructure. Part of this framework is a physical space where DeepTech can foster research collisions and technical collaborations (the DeepTech Innovation Hub).
For most WHOI projects, there is no fee to use DeepTech resources beyond consumable costs. In return, WHOI staff and students are expected to contribute to DeepTech's wider mission and goals through participation, activities, and collisions. DeepTech will work with larger projects or programs that absorb significant DeepTech resources to identify appropriate cost-recovery strategies.
The vision for DeepTech is to support a very broad range of ocean research, development, and education. Of particular interest are the types of projects and use cases that WHOI can't support currently with its existing facilities, spaces, and resources. DeepTech does not consider technical merit when approving Use Requests.
Core principles for DeepTech include the following:
- Fostering new, innovative, collaborative projects within WHOI that we couldn't otherwise pursue.
- Supporting a wide range of WHOI users and activities, broadly across the Institution.
- Disseminating WHOI-grown advances back into WHOI for wider community benefit.
DeepTech has a role in outreach and recruitment at WHOI, especially in engineering & technical areas . DeepTech also strongly encourages proposals for education & outreach including classes, workshops, seminars, and training. DeepTech's social hub space can be configured for many types of use.
Engaging with DeepTech
DeepTech is an active research space and generally speaking is not open for public tours or visits.
DeepTech resources are available for use in WHOI-sponsored research and contracts, as well as partnerships with external businesses. DeepTech will support industry collaboration aligned with our mission at WHOI. DeepTech also can help WHOI staff launch new WHOI partnerships with industry that are formally approved by WHOI and the Strategic Hub for Innovation and Parnership (SHIP).
Leveraging DeepTech for any commercially-oriented venture is welcome, and will usually require an initial dialogue with WHOI's Strategic Hub for Innovation and Partnership (SHIP).
DeepTech can potentially be a conduit for companies and other organizations in the ocean technology space to introduce themselves to WHOI. To start this process, send an email to deeptech@whoi.edu that introduces your company/organization and outlines your interest in connecting with WHOI. DeepTech will forward your inquiry as appropriate within the WHOI community.