Strategic Business Plan and Revenue Model for a New Marine Sciences Initiative

Small group wading in and examining shallow coastal water with ring nets

Project Brief

The Challenge

The Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute and Bodega Marine Lab at the University of California, Davis support world-class research and teaching in coastal and marine sciences and policy. CMSI and BML wanted to unite their strengths by building a new, collaborative initiative to address the economic, ecological, and social challenges of the rapidly changing land-sea interface in California and beyond. They sought Blue Earth’s support in charting the path forward.


ERG's Solution

Blue Earth Consultants worked closely with CMSI, BML, and the UC campus leadership to develop a five-year strategic business plan, governance structure, and revenue model for the new CMSI-BML joint initiative. We conducted web research, online surveys, interviews, in-depth case studies, competitive landscape analysis, and funder research to guide the initiative’s strategic and operational approach. Based on this research, we developed recommendations and facilitated in-person meetings with CMSI and BML leadership to refine the initiative’s strategic goals and objectives, develop a governance and revenue model, and identify innovative opportunities. The resulting road map for the initiative was designed to harness CMSI’s and BML’s combined strengths and amplify the university’s impact in marine and coastal sciences.


Client

University of California, Davis, Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute and Bodega Marine Laboratory