Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent non-profit ocean sciences research institution in East Boothbay, Maine, founded in 1974. It studies marine microbes, runs Gulf of Maine ocean monitoring, stewards marine microbial culture collections, and anchors a new blue biotechnology commercialization studio and summit ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersWest Boothbay Harbor, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences does
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, non-profit ocean sciences research institution founded in 1974 and headquartered at 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, Maine. It conducts basic and applied research focused on microbial ocean life — particularly the role of microbes in ocean productivity — and operates specialized programs in microbial single cell genomics, ocean monitoring and forecasting for the Gulf of Maine, seaweed and microalgae research and cultivation, and stewardship of one of the world's curated marine microbial culture collections. The Laboratory also provides paid laboratory and analytical services, contractual research, expert consultation, biological material deposits, and professional courses to external researchers, institutions, and industry clients, alongside an education pipeline that includes postdoctoral training, REU, the Keller BLOOM high school program, and the Sea Change Semester.
The institution's business model is a multi-stream non-profit mix: philanthropic donations (online giving, the Council, the Blue Planet Circle donor society, estate planning), non-dilutive grants and program funding from government, foundation, and state sources (notably the Maine Technology Institute), fee-for-service contractual research and analytical services, transaction-based access to culture collections and biological material deposits, and tuition/fees from professional courses and credentialed training programs. Pricing across services, research collaborations, and educational programs is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Since late 2025, Bigelow has repositioned itself as the anchor of a regional blue biotechnology commercialization cluster. It launched the Blue Biotech Innovation Ecosystem (Oct 2025), partnered with aquaculture investor Hatch Blue and the Maine Technology Institute to stand up the Maine Blue Biotech Studio (Nov 2025 announcement, Mar 2026 launch) — described as the world's first blue biotechnology-focused innovation studio, hosting an inaugural cohort of 10 international startups from the U.S., Norway, Canada, and Germany — and culminated the program with the inaugural North Atlantic Blue BioTech Summit in Portland, Maine (April 2026). It has also extended its academic footprint via a new Marine Science Minor with Colby College (March 2026) and hosted policy audiences through the New England Blue Economy Tour. The Laboratory serves blue biotech startups, scientific and industry research clients, students and early-career scientists, higher education partners, and government/policy audiences, and is positioned as both a research institution and a regional ecosystem convener in a market projected to exceed $10 billion globally by 2027.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
- Legal name
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
- Website
- https://bigelow.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent non-profit ocean sciences research institution in East Boothbay, Maine, founded in 1974. It studies marine microbes, runs Gulf of Maine ocean monitoring, stewards marine microbial culture collections, and anchors a new blue biotechnology commercialization studio and summit ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Science Research Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Aquaculture (1125)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbiome & Metagenomics Services (HLAGANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE), Microbiome Analytics, Sequencing & Bioinformatics Platforms (HLAAAFAI), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
Keywords
Where Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Boothbay Harbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: Non-profit funding model that solicits charitable donations through online giving, the Council, the Blue Planet Circle donor program, estate and gift planning, and donor policies listed on the Support pages.
- Contractual Research: Fee-for-service research projects performed under contract for external clients, leveraging Bigelow's laboratories, facilities, and scientific staff.
- Analytical and Laboratory Services: Paid analytical services offered to outside researchers and industry customers using Bigelow's instruments and expertise.
- Cultural Collection and Biological Material Sales/Deposits: Revenue from access, deposits, and distribution of biological materials and culture collection resources to scientific and industry users.
- Expert Consultation and Professional Courses: Income from paid expert consultations, professional development courses, and professional courses offered to working scientists, educators, and industry professionals.
- Grants and Public/Private Program Funding: Non-dilutive funding from government, foundation, and industry sources (e.g., support from Maine Technology Institute for the Maine Blue Biotech Studio) to advance research, innovation, and ecosystem programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Quote-based / Not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a non-profit ocean sciences research institution that performs marine microbial research, ocean monitoring and forecasting, and seaweed/microalgae cultivation, and delivers paid scientific services including analytical services, contractual research, microbial single cell genomics, expert consultation, and access to curated marine culture collections and biological material deposits. It also runs credentialed education and workforce programs (postdoctoral training, REU, Sea Change Semester, Keller BLOOM, professional development) and operates the Maine Blue Biotech Studio, an innovation studio that accelerates marine-derived biotech startups toward commercial scale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Analytical Services Laboratory-based analytical services supporting marine science research, offered to outside researchers and industry clients through Bigelow's instruments and expertise.
- Contractual Research Contract research services enabling external partners to engage Bigelow Laboratory for sponsored scientific studies using its laboratories, facilities, and scientific staff.
- Microbial Single Cell Genomics Specialized single-cell genomics service for microbial ocean life, supporting advanced marine microbiology research for external researchers and industry clients.
- Culture Collections and Resources Access to Bigelow's curated marine microbial culture collections and related biological resources for researchers and industry partners.
- Biological Material Deposits Service for depositing biological materials, supporting the marine research community's access to curated specimens.
- Expert Consultation Subject-matter consultation services delivered by Bigelow Laboratory scientists to external clients.
- Facilities and Vessels Access to Bigelow Laboratory's physical facilities and research vessels for marine science operations and external research use.
- Professional Development Professional development offerings for working scientists, educators, and industry professionals, delivered as a paid service line by Bigelow Laboratory.
- Professional Courses Paid professional courses offered to working scientists and educators to advance skills in marine science topics.
- Sea Change Semester Immersive undergraduate semester program providing hands-on marine science research experience at Bigelow Laboratory.
- Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) NSF-style Research Experience for Undergraduates program offering funded summer research opportunities at Bigelow Laboratory.
- Keller BLOOM High school student program providing marine science research exposure and mentoring at Bigelow Laboratory.
- Postdoctoral Training Postdoctoral training positions offered to early-career scientists conducting marine science research at Bigelow Laboratory.
- Maine Blue Biotech Studio (Blue Biotech Innovation Studio) Fully-funded cohort program that accelerates ocean-derived biotech products from research to market, providing mentorship, facility access, and investor connections to selected marine biotech startups.
- Marine Science Minor (Colby College partnership) Joint academic minor in marine science combining Colby College coursework (Jan Plan) with hands-on research experience at Bigelow Laboratory through the Sea Change Semester.
Quantifiable outcome
- Inaugural Maine Blue Biotech Studio cohort of 10 international startups from the U.S., Norway, Canada, and Germany working across algae innovation, aquaculture health, biomaterials, and marine circularity.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL): Affiliate of the University of Chicago located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, conducting research in marine biology, genomics, and biological discovery with a focus on microbial and environmental science. Comparable to Bigelow's microbial research and culture collection stewardship.
- Schmidt Ocean Institute: Private non-profit operating the research vessel Falkor and supporting oceanographic research and technology development globally. Similar private operating model and commitment to open ocean science and technology.
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU): Ocean research institute of Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, Florida, focused on ocean science, marine biotech discovery, and aquaculture. Comparable to Bigelow in mission and growing emphasis on marine biotechnology translation.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI): Private non-profit oceanographic research institute in Moss Landing, California, focused on ocean science and technology development. Closely comparable to Bigelow in private non-profit research mission and advanced marine technology capabilities.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Private, non-profit oceanographic research institution based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, conducting fundamental marine science research and graduate education. Most directly comparable peer to Bigelow in mission, non-profit structure, and ocean research focus.
Regional players
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel: German government-funded ocean research center studying marine science from coastal to deep-sea environments. Comparable in mission and scientific breadth but government-funded and based in Germany.
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory: UK-based independent marine research laboratory focused on ocean biogeochemistry, marine ecology, and aquaculture science. Directly comparable in independent marine research lab structure but operating in a different geography.
- Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS): Scotland's largest marine science research organization, focused on marine renewable energy, aquaculture, and ocean observation. Comparable independent research structure with overlapping ocean monitoring and aquaculture research interests.
- Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based independent marine science organization with strong aquaculture, algae biotech, and marine bioproducts research focus. Comparable in independent research lab structure and aquaculture/blue biotech orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography: University of California San Diego's oceanographic research institution — one of the largest and oldest ocean science institutions globally. A broader, university-affiliated incumbent with overlapping research areas but a much larger scale and broader mandate than Bigelow.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences social profiles
Digital presenceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds15 records
Investors1 record
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Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
What does Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences do?
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a non-profit ocean sciences research institution that performs marine microbial research, ocean monitoring and forecasting, and seaweed/microalgae cultivation, and delivers paid scientific services including analytical services, contractual research, microbial single cell genomics, expert consultation, and access to curated marine culture collections and biological material deposits. It also runs credentialed education and workforce programs (postdoctoral training, REU, Sea Change Semester, Keller BLOOM, professional development) and operates the Maine Blue Biotech Studio, an innovation studio that accelerates marine-derived biotech startups toward commercial scale.
Is Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences a public or private company?
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences founded?
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences based?
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is headquartered in West Boothbay Harbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are contractual Research, analytical and Laboratory Services, cultural Collection and Biological Material Sales/Deposits, expert Consultation and Professional Courses and grants and Public/Private Program Funding.
Who are Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Schmidt Ocean Institute, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Regional players are GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and Cawthron Institute. Scripps Institution of Oceanography is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.
What industry is Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in?
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences's product category is Marine Science Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGANAH, Microbiome & Metagenomics Services, with a secondary code of AFAEAAAE, Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.