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Mote shares its discoveries through             The Lab’s most priceless gift is shared
intellectual property products, with around     knowledge. Mote provides independent,
a dozen patents obtained and several more       science-based information and expertise
pending. Mote-patented technologies help        for policymakers, resource managers and
detect wastewater contamination, monitor        other decision makers. Mote scientists
for red tides that can severely affect Florida  also exchange knowledge with fishers and
communities, enable sustainable seafood         others who value marine resources; the
farming and more. In 2014, the business         Lab conducts inclusive workshops and
community implemented Mote’s innovations        leads citizen-science projects such as a
in a big way: A sustainable foods company       community-powered effort to restore
licensed the intellectual property developed    shellfish in Sarasota Bay.
from Mote research to launch a new eco-
friendly, farm-raised caviar business           In addition, Mote actively forges
operation. Such successes are critical:         partnerships with science and education
Aquaculture supplies more than half the         institutions around the world to strengthen
world’s seafood and demand is growing.          shared missions. From partnerships
                                                with major universities in Florida to
Mote research helps fuel the marine-driven      international agreements with institutions
“Blue Economy,” particularly in Florida, where  in Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East,
ocean-related economic activity contributed     the Caribbean region and elsewhere, Mote
$17.5 billion to the state’s gross domestic     spearheads and supports unified efforts to
product as of 2010. The fishing, ecotourism     tackle global environmental challenges.
and aquaculture industries, along with rising
powers like marine biomedical research, are
critical to a healthy economy. Mote has a
statewide economic impact of $86.8-million.
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