The last time Alpena hosted the competition was 2014.

Last week, the MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) ROV World Competition planning team came to Alpena to set plans in place for the competition.

“More than 10 years later, we’re thrilled to be bringing the MATE World Championship back to Alpena,” said Jill Zande, executive director of MATE at the Marine Technology Society. “The warm and welcoming community, the support and enthusiasm, and the facilities and expertise at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary make this an ideal spot for our global community of learners to showcase their technology innovations, teamwork, and tenacity. Again, we’re excited to be coming here next June and to be highlighting the Great Lakes.”

The MATE ROV Competition is a global remotely operated vehicle (ROV), also called underwater robotics, competition that brings together students, educators, working professionals, and marine industry leaders from around the world, according to a press release from the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Courtesy Photo Competitors and spectators are seen at the 2014 MATE ROV World Competition held in Alpena. Competition returns to Alpena next summer.

“They put on the underwater robotics competition that we’ve been involved with for over 20 years now,” said TBNMS Superintendent Jeff Gray. “Now, it’s grown to where we have, some years, up to 30 teams that we mentor here that are building these robots from elementary to college. Every year, we host the regional competition where teams from around the state, and sometimes, beyond, come here and have that competition. The winner of that competition moves on to the world championships. Next summer, we’ll be hosting the world championships.”

He said while the planning team was in Alpena, they worked on the logistics of bringing over 1,000 people to the area for about a week.

“We hosted this in 2014,” Gray said. “And they don’t go to small towns. It’s usually bigger cities that they go to, so it was a big deal. I think we had about 40 teams last time, and there could be up to 80 teams this time.”

Those teams come from countries all over the world, he said, as well as teams from the U.S.

“There are hundreds of teams from around the world that compete to get into this competition,” Gray said. “Each region sends people to compete in the world championships. It’s really, really exciting.”

He said an event like this brings a lot of attention to Alpena.

“The mission, what the kids have to design these robots to do, is all based on the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary,” Gray said. “So, there will be over 5,000 kids around the world thinking about Alpena and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary this whole year, as they’re building their robot for this competition.”

“Teams face a series of real-world mission scenarios and are required to demonstrate their ROVs’ capabilities in tackling these tasks — all of which are simulated in swimming pools and test tanks,” the press release stated. “The MATE ROV Competition entrepreneurial approach not only challenges students to apply their knowledge of physics, math, electronics, and engineering, but also helps them cultivate crucial soft (A.K.A. employability) skills such as communication, teamwork, analytical thinking, adaptability, and customer engagement — key attributes highly valued in today’s workplace.”

“The technology that these kids are using, building, and learning about is the same technology that we use just about every day out on the water to research the shipwrecks and the Great Lakes,” Gray said. “The competition will not just highlight the technology and the importance of the technology, but it will also highlight the importance of our mission here to protect the Great Lakes.”

Last year’s event in Kingsport, Tennessee generated $2.5 million in revenue for local businesses, as reported by Visit Kingsport. The 2023 competition held in Longmont, Colorado boosted the economy by 136%, according to the Longmont Visitor’s Bureau.

“We are excited about the positive impact this event will bring to Alpena’s businesses, hotels, and the broader community,” the press release from TBNMS states. “This is a unique opportunity to showcase your town to a global audience and create a lasting economic boost.”

“It’ll be a huge surge of people, and have a great economic impact on the community,” Gray said. “It’s just great exposure to all these people to what we have to offer in Northeast Michigan.”

Reach Darby Hinkley at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or call 989-358-5691.