The environments of the ocean and the human body share certain properties that foster research in disease resistance and treatment beneficial to the science of living systems as a whole. While the niches of Marine Science and Life Science can still grow independently, the Grow Smarter Strategy’s intent to integrate the two will have the highest impact.

By and large, talent pipelines for Marine and Life Sciences occupations are sustainable and projected to experience future growth, which the St. Petersburg Innovation District aims to facilitate and support. Numerous local educational resources, including the University of South Florida- College of Marine Science and All Children’ provide a steady source of talent for the marine and life science industries. In recent years, the number of health and biological sciences degrees granted locally has significantly increased.