SaferSEA Open Innovation Call: deadline extension
What is the SaferSEA Open Innovation Call?
This Open Innovation Call is the “2nd phase” of the Call for Challenges launched in March 2025.
The Call for Challenges aimed to collect technological issues faced by maritime transport stakeholders from the Atlantic area. 13 challenges were collected, and 6 were selected to participate in this 2nd phase.
The Open Innovation Call aims to connect the selected Challenge Owners with Solution Providers for the development of innovative solutions. The team will benefit from business support and valorisation, and the joint solution could qualify for pilot project development support.
What type of business support will be provided to the teams?
The project partners will rely on the extensive knowledge of their local ecosystem and on the tools previously developed through SaferSEA in order to:
- Connect Challenge Owners with relevant Solution Providers in the Atlantic Area
- Identify national or EU fundings for the development of the solution, and provide support for the application process
- Identify a potential site for experimentation or demonstration in the Atlantic Area
- Valorise the selected projects within European networks
Which maritime Challenges were selected during the Call for Challenges?
Applicants could submit proposals under the 3 following topics: decarbonisation, pollution and safety at sea.
DECARBONISATION
Decarbonising port activity and mitigating gas emissions to combat climate change and improve air quality
Project leader: Algeciras Bay Port Authority (Spain)
Objective: Collect data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their environmental impact (odors, noise, light, waste, discharges, etc.). The goal is to identify critical points, risks, and responsible suppliers, and to assess the dispersion of pollutants and their impact on the population and the surrounding environment.
POLLUTION
QUIETSEA – Quantifying Underwater Impacts and Ecological Trends in Soundscapes of the Atlantic
Project Leader: University of Évora / MARE – Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences / CIEMAR – Marine Sciences Laboratory (Portugal)
Objective: Monitor, quantify, and raise awareness of underwater noise pollution and its ecological consequences—particularly those related to commercial shipping and port operations.
BlueCycle Nexus – Turning Maritime Waste into Opportunity
Project Leader: Vision4You (Portugal)
Objective: Develop a smart digital platform dedicated to the management and upcycling of maritime waste. This platform will centralise data on marine and industrial waste from maritime activities, enabling stakeholders to connect for exchanges, recycling, and upcycling.
Automatic Spill Detection System
Project Leader: Algeciras Bay Port Authority (Spain)
Objective: Implement an automatic system for continuous monitoring of water quality in the ports of Algeciras Bay to quickly detect pollution.
Spill Removal System
Project Leader: Algeciras Bay Port Authority (Spain)
Objective: Develop a more efficient system for the treatment and removal of polluted materials after oil spills. The goal is to reduce the volume of hazardous waste generated.
SAFETY AT SEA
Sea Vision AI
Project leader: TAILOR – Advanced Analytics (Portugal)
Objective: Develop an intelligent monitoring and diagnostic system to detect maintenance issues in shipping containers.
Do you develop a Solution that could address one of these challenges? Apply before August 31!
The complete description of the 6 Challenges and the link to the Application Form are available on the dedicated page:
