What started three years ago as a small technology demonstration event has grown into a major gathering for maritime innovation, bringing together technology developers, government and DoD leaders, investors, researchers and industry partners in Newport, Rhode Island.
On August 27, Polaris Tech Bridge hosted the third annual BlueTIDE, held in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport.
The growth has been significant.
BlueTIDE’s first year featured 15 companies participating in the in-water demonstrations, 30 companies in Showcase Alley and approximately 400 attendees. This year, those numbers grew to more than 30 in-water companies, 70-plus companies in Showcase Alley and more than 1,000 attendees.
That growth reflects the increasing demand for opportunities to see emerging technologies in action and connect the innovators behind them with the people who can help move those technologies forward.
“BlueTIDE exemplifies the economic opportunities in Rhode Island that are focused on blue economy and defense,” said Christian Cowan, Executive Director of Polaris. “The biggest of which is the exponential economic growth from the ocean economy, which is anchored in technology and manufacturing. This not only enables defense work, but also informs and improves issues such as sea level rise and climate change as well as economic opportunities around fisheries and aquaculture.”
The in-water demonstration remains at the heart of BlueTIDE. The live demonstrations generated operational data and feedback intended to help participating companies validate their technologies and better understand potential applications within defense and maritime environments.
Distinguished guests including Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Gabe Amo, Congressman Seth Magaziner, Governor Dan McKee, Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor, NUWC Technical Director Marie Bussier, and Anduril Vice President James Buescher addressed the crowd of 1,000 attendees prior to the following companies receiving their “best of” awards as determined by a team of onsite evaluators.
2026 In-Water Demonstration “Best Of” Awards
- BlueTIDE Maritime Defense Innovation: SPEAR AI
- BlueTIDE Maritime Awareness Excellence: Sedna Robotics
- BlueTIDE Digital Innovation: Coastal Measures
- BlueTIDE Collaborative Integration Award: Tactical Composites, Robosys Automation, JAIA Robotics, and Persistent Systems
- BlueTIDE Innovation Showcase: SAFRAN Federal Systems
- BlueTIDE Demonstration Excellence: HonuWorx
- BlueTIDE Autonomous Systems Excellence: Voltaic Marine
- BlueTIDE Catalyst Award: Juice Robotics
Showcase Alley has also become a defining part of BlueTIDE. More than 70 companies participated this year, giving attendees the chance to see technologies up close, speak directly with innovators and explore potential partnerships, funding opportunities and applications across defense and commercial markets.
The companies represented a wide range of capabilities, including robotics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, sensing, communications, ocean data and power technologies.
Three years in, BlueTIDE has grown from 15 in-water companies and 30 Showcase Alley participants to a community of more than 100 companies and more than 1,000 attendees.
And we’re not stopping there.
Polaris Tech Bridge is already looking ahead to BlueTIDE 2027 and the opportunity to make the event even bigger and more valuable for the companies, organizations and mission partners that make it possible.
The continued growth of BlueTIDE is a reflection of the strength of the maritime technology ecosystem — and we’re excited to see what comes next.