I/ONX and Mote Marine Partner to Put AI Compute to Work in Marine Science
Jan 28, 2026 - Las Vegas, NV and Sarasota, FL
I/ONX High Performance Compute (HPC) and Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc. are collaborating to bring AI and heterogeneous compute into marine research and science education. The partnership will pilot I/ONX's AI compute solutions after a formal evaluation, co-develop workflows and data products, and safeguard Mote's intellectual property and data ownership.
Alongside technical support, I/ONX will contribute two percent of its annual gross revenue to fund Mote's AI compute-related initiatives. This includes large dataset aggregation, analysis, and visualization across programs spanning coral and seagrass genetic libraries, harmful algal blooms, water quality, ecotoxicology, ocean technology instrumentation, and marine mammals.
What the collaboration covers
- Deployment and pilot of AI compute to support research and education after a formal assessment.
- Co-development of workflows, data products, and operational procedures for day-to-day use.
- Clear structures for data ownership, IP protection, and secure handling of sensitive datasets.
- Joint pursuit of research funding and public outreach aligned with mission-driven outcomes.
- Heterogeneous compute to improve flexibility, efficiency, and reduce dependence on any single provider.
Why it matters for scientists
Marine research runs on complex, multimodal data: genomics, sensor streams, imaging, acoustics, and field observations. Adding scalable AI compute and standardized workflows can shorten time-to-insight, improve reproducibility, and help teams compare signals across programs that previously sat in silos.
Expect practical gains: faster detection of patterns in harmful algal bloom monitoring, better model fusion for water quality forecasting, more consistent image and acoustic analysis for marine mammals, and clearer data products for public and policy audiences. For background on harmful algal blooms, see NOAA's overview here.
Voices from the partnership
"It is humbling to have the opportunity to contribute to protecting humans, the environment, plants, and animals," said Justyn Hornor, CEO of I/ONX. "We are grateful and excited to partner with Mote to take marine biology research to new industry standards - making us all future ready for a better today and tomorrow."
"This partnership is about people as much as it is about technology," said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium President & CEO. "By working alongside I/ONX, we can responsibly use advanced computing to support our researcher and technology development, strengthen science education, and translate complex data into knowledge that helps oceans and coastal communities thrive. This gives our scientists new tools to see patterns, solve problems and move discovery forward faster while staying grounded in our responsibility to protect marine life and the communities that depend on healthy oceans."
Programs that benefit
- Coral and seagrass genetic libraries
- Harmful algal bloom monitoring and response
- Water quality modeling and forecasting
- Ecotoxicology studies and risk assessment
- Ocean technology instrumentation and calibration
- Marine mammal health, acoustics, and behavior
Governance, IP, and data stewardship
Data ownership remains with Mote. The partners will define operational procedures that prioritize privacy, security, and responsible use across research and education. Expect emphasis on versioned workflows, clear data lineage, and interoperable formats that make results easier to verify, reuse, and share.
Teams looking to align their practices with community standards can revisit the FAIR principles here.
About I/ONX
I/ONX High Performance Compute, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Las Vegas, focuses on flexible, heterogeneous, and secure AI compute for enterprises and public-sector teams. The platform emphasizes data sovereignty, supply chain resilience, vendor independence, efficiency, and scalability. Core values-Compassion, Curiosity, Courage, Communication, and Commitment-guide the organization's work. Media inquiries: media@i-onx.com.
About Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Mote is an independent 501(c)3 marine research and science education institution founded in 1955. With ten campuses from Sarasota Bay to Key West, Mote operates 38 research programs and centers of excellence focused on conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources. Learn more at mote.org. Media inquiries: communications@mote.org.
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