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HUB Ocean is a non-profit, non-compete foundation. That will be important for the users of HUB Oceans ground groundbreaking Ocean Data Platform that will support and boost hundreds of new AI projects and speed up sustainable solutions for the oceans with the power of AI.
The Jury of the AI for the Oceans Award and the organizing team led by the German Ocean Foundation support this development with the award. We recognize this important project for science, industry, and governance to improve data quality and science-based results. Together with HUB Ocean, we want to encourage everyone to achieve a 100% sustainably managed ocean. The time to start is NOW. It is NOW to upload hidden data, stored away where nobody is using them. It is NOW to make data available for new research projects to spare research from collecting existing data again. This enables researchers and planners to compare older data or data from other regions with new results. Efficiency in research and planning processes will increase finally and gain speed. That is what the jury hopes for and why we want to give the AI for the Oceans Award to HUB Ocean. Visit HUB Ocean here: www.hubocean.earth
We are thrilled to announce the three finalists for the prestigious AI for the Oceans Award. Selected from over 70 applicants in 36 countries, these innovative projects use AI to enhance ocean health.
By using HydroTWIN (HT), the first modern AI-based Underwater Acoustic Digital Twin, developed by blueOASIS, one can in a straightforward (small device of less than 8kg and 0.5m dimensions) and affordable manner (1/10 of the usual price of a similar non-smart traditional hydrophone system) monitor 24/7 the underwater soundscape. Since to "hear is to see" underwater, this permits to measure noise levels, perform real-time noise maps, identify and classify any moving object, identify and classify acoustic active species, thereby permitting any user to quantify the actual noise pollution, and their impact in our Oceans.
The new Global Ocean Treaty is a landmark development in the law of the sea. It calls for integrated approaches which consider cumulative impacts on the marine environment. This includes BBNJ (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction) treaty obligatory environmental impact assessments where potentially harmful activities take place in the high seas, and the objective to designate at least 30% of the planet by 2030. So far, we are lacking a comprehensive tool for analysing such combined impacts from different human uses to the environment of the high seas, and where the most valuable areas are to set aside for marine protection. Ocean Symphony aims to fill this gap, providing a robust platform for transparent cumulative impact assessments, scenario-based analyses, and international data collaboration. The tool is a co-development directed to support the coming BBNJ secretariat and others to manage different uses of the oceans.
OceanOS, is a startup using AI for in-depth nature intelligence that stems from meticulous ground-truthing data collection. By analyzing extensive marine data, including environmental DNA and acoustic monitoring, Ocean OS provides stakeholders with critical insights for informed conservation strategies. The platform supports global environmental goals by promoting sustainable energy development and the conservation of underwater ecosystems. With a scalable and adaptable design, Ocean OS aims for international deployment, partnering with governments and environmental agencies to ensure the sustainable growth of renewable energy infrastructure.
The winner will be announced at the SMM in Hamburg on September 5, 2024. The three finalists will pitch their ideas to the SMM audience so they will vote for their winner, too. The finalists will also present their ideas at the Oeiras Bluetech Ocean Forum in Lisbon, Portugal on October 16 and the AI Summit 2024 in Hamburg, Germany on December 5.
Another 7 candidates out of 70 stood out during the selection process. Learn more about these 7 shortlisted candidates here:
Every year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans, contaminating the water and affecting marine life. The impacts of plastic pollution on our water bodies are catastrophic and can potentially disrupt the balance of entire ecosystems. Pollution is rising at an alarming rate, which calls for a need to keep pollution in check. Otherwise, we risk losing our most vital resource—water—without which survival is impossible. Our AI-powered computer vision will detect various types of waste in water bodies, enabling precise identification and collection of pollutants. This technology will allow our skimmer to navigate efficiently, ensuring optimal route planning and waste collection. Additionally, AI will assist in sorting and segregating different types of waste, crucial for our trash-to-cash model.
There is an ambitious global goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. However, at the moment, only 8.1% of the ocean is protected and over 80% of the ocean is still unexplored. We thus urgently need to collect data for evidence-based decision-making to help tackle the global climate and biodiversity crises and to support coastal communities. Therefore, BioConsult SH and HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd developed the service SPACEWHALE: SPACEWHALE monitors whales from space using satellite imagery and AI. Using whales as key indicators for a high biodiversity, we can determine their number and distribution quickly and over wide areas, yet at similar costs to traditional survey methods. We teamed up a semi-automatic process to evaluate satellite images combining state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and marine mammal experts’ quality assurance.
Earthian AI helps is focused to help the organisations to understand the scale and risks of ocean warming and acidification, and sea level rise. We do extensive high resolution satellite imaging, and offer 300% more environmental details with our AI technology, the highest in the market. Earthian AI's technology enables governmental agencies and financial institutes, e.g. banks, asset managers and insurance firms, to monitor the natural hazards, climate change threats, pollution and emissions, and projected losses up to 5 years ahead.
The world currently values the ocean and its services at $0. This must change to protect the “Superweapon Against Climate Change,” the ocean. OCN.ai tackles monitoring and understanding the ocean's health, complicated by fragmented data collection. Current methods serve narrow purposes, making valuable data inaccessible and limiting our understanding of marine ecosystems. They are also expensive, labor-intensive, and exclude non-specialists and local communities. OCN.ai addresses the lack of a comprehensive method to value the ocean, which hinders decision-making, limits sustainable growth, and restricts market opportunities for natural capital assets. Without this data, creating a nature-based economy is impossible.
The world currently values the ocean and its services at $0. This must change to protect the “Superweapon Against Climate Change,” the ocean. OCN.ai tackles monitoring and understanding the ocean's health, complicated by fragmented data collection. Current methods serve narrow purposes, making valuable data inaccessible and limiting our understanding of marine ecosystems. They are also expensive, labor-intensive, and exclude non-specialists and local communities. OCN.ai addresses the lack of a comprehensive method to value the ocean, which hinders decision-making, limits sustainable growth, and restricts market opportunities for natural capital assets. Without this data, creating a nature-based economy is impossible.
The seafloor is crucial for addressing issues from climate change to food security through CO2 removal and resource management. Yet we lack detailed seafloor data to fully utilize its potential. Traditional methods are inadequate for large-scale data collection and processing. But policymakers need these data for informed management decisions (e.g., pollution regulation, coastal protection), to attract investments (e.g. cabling, offshore wind) and to scale blue carbon and biodiversity credit markets. PlanBlue has developed groundbreaking technology to create scalable health and biodiversity maps of the seafloor, integrating advanced imaging, geo positioning and AI for full automation. The result: highly detailed maps that provide concurrent data on biomass, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, health, pollution and materials.
Stream Ocean’s solution addresses the critical issue of insufficient and costly ocean data, which hampers the effective safeguarding and utilization of marine resources. After acquiring underwater video, Stream Ocean's AI-driven software automatically transforms video footage into data points, which are robust, science-based and already utilized in monitoring ocean health. Our solution delivers highlight footage and data metrics via a secure online dashboard, enabling stakeholders across various sectors, such as maritime construction, aquaculture, and conservation, to consistently and effectively monitor marine impacts.
We thank all applicants for their submissions and their tireless contribution to save our oceans.
Our team and the jury of highly reputed experts will give you feedback on your idea.
The long list and the three finalists will be presented on the SMM, the world’s No.1 event for the maritime industry with 40,000 visitors in September.
The three finalists can pitch their ideas directly following the Offshore Dialogue at SMM 2024 remotely or personally.
There will be 2 winners. Winner of the audience prize, and winner of the jury prize who takes home the trophy and the 10.000 €.
The jury’s winner also receives a campaign sponsored by the German Ocean Foundation on LinkedIn.
The three finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their concepts at the Ocean AI Summit of Portugal Blue Digital Hub “EDIH” in Lisbon, Oeiras, at the end of September.
The winner of the jury will be invited for a presentation at the AI.Summit to present the project to an expert audience (Dec. 2024)
Once you submit the application form, you will receive a link to your application, where you can make adjustments, if necessary. Please make sure to make all changes by July 4, 2024. In entering this competition, you are agreeing to these Terms & Conditions. Find all information in the FAQs below.
Editorial Director, Impact Initiatives; The Economist Group
Aquanaut; Founder at Proteus Ocean Group
Professor of Yale School of Medicine, Co-CEO of OceanX
Secretary-General Fórum Oceano - Assoc. da Economia do Mar
Founding Partner AI.GROUP, AI.FUND, AI.HAMBURG
CEO - Cambrian.ai, Prof. of Practice - UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Member - Global AI Governance Alliance at the WEF
Head, IUCN Ocean, Centre for Conservation Action
Founding Partner; CIO at Ocean 14 Capital
Sustainable Ocean Alliance; Oceans Solution Accelerator
Space Applications Engineer, HE Space Operations
Marine Conservation Biologist; Oceanographer; University of Exeter
Founder of United Sustainability Group, Member Club of Rome and World Future Council
Founder and Director of German Ocean Foundation
General Manager, German Association for Marine Technology
Conference Manager, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH
AI HAMBURG promotes the knowledge and broad application of artificial intelligence and in particular machine learning.
Our mission is to give the oceans a voice and promote a lasting partnership between the ocean and people to ensure the well-being of future generations and healthy oceans.
The most important industry event for the maritime industry: As the world's leading trade fair and conference event, SMM 2024 will bring together about 40,000 participants from over 120 countries and serve as a unique platform for business, the exchange of ideas and cooperation.
Forum Oceano is the managing entity of the Portuguese Sea Cluster, certified and recognized by the Ministry of Economy and the SeaOrganizer of Ocean AI Summit of Portugal Blue Digital Hub “EDIH” in Lisbon, Oeiras, at the end of September.
GMT is a non-profit association the GMT represents the interests of companies and research institutions in the area of marine technology towards the public and policy makers.
The Sustainable Ocean Alliance activates young people, develops and implements innovative solutions, and mobilizes the global movement to restore the health of the ocean in our lifetime.
OceanScore’s mission is to support shipping towards sustainability with world-class data and industry-backed solutions.
Project Manager for the AI for the Oceans Award, Co-Founder of German Ocean Foundation
Manager AI.STARTUP.HUB, Projectmanager for AI for the Oceans Award for the SMM 2024 AI CENTER at AI.HAMBURG
If you are one of those teams who can make a difference, Apply now! Deadline is July 4, 2024.