Driving Ocean Innovation: Ocean Community at the EUTOPIA MORE Challenge in Lisbon

From May 5th to 9th, Ocean Community proudly participated in the EUTOPIA MORE Innovation Challenges for Researchers, hosted by Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

EUTOPIA is a student-centered, challenge-driven alliance of European universities dedicated to addressing global challenges through collaborative research, innovation, and transnational education.

This week’s marine-focused challenge brought together researchers from across Europe at the NOVA IMPACT Campus to address pressing real-world ocean issues. Ocean Community had the opportunity to be one of three official Challenge Makers, presenting a targeted problem within the Environmental Protection and Regeneration vertical.

We were joined by:

• Oceano Fresco, a sustainable seafood company pioneering innovative aquaculture techniques, contributing to the Blue Biotechnology vertical;

• blueOASIS, a start-up advancing ocean technology across offshore renewables, aquaculture, ocean cleaning, and maritime sustainability, leading the Blue Technology and Ocean Observation vertical.

Environmental Protection and Regeneration

Challenge:

How can we regenerate ocean health while supporting sustainable, multi-use access to marine spaces?

With mounting pressures from bottom trawling, pollution, climate change, and competing stakeholder demands, the challenge required integrated, scalable solutions that support both ecological restoration and economic value.

Proposed Solution: Offshore windfarms – a new community

While Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) have grown by over 1000% in Europe in the past decade, they also introduce ecological challenges, altering biodiversity, disrupting water mixing, and increasing underwater noise.

The research team proposed transforming OWFs into regenerative marine habitats. By applying reef-safe coatings, adding artificial reef structures (like “reef sleeves”), and broadcasting healthy reef soundscapes to attract marine life, OWFs could evolve into biodiversity hubs. This approach has the potential to integrate renewable energy infrastructure with long-term ecosystem regeneration, reimagining OWFs as multi-functional ocean assets.

Blue Biotechnology

Challenge:

How can we cultivate bivalves sustainably while reducing dependence on environmentally sensitive sediment systems?

Oceano Fresco is exploring alternatives to traditional oyster farming, which is vulnerable to tidal changes, runoff, and predators. Longline suspension farming in open water mitigates some risks but introduces new ones, such as limited food availability and exposure to unfamiliar environments.

Solution: Lago Fresco

The team proposed Lago Fresco, a modular, plug-and-play pond system supported by an implementation manual for cultivating juvenile bivalves like clams. The system follows a three-phase cycle: preparing the seabed, seeding it, and managing growth under controlled conditions.

Its key innovation lies in a franchise model operated by Oceano Fresco, providing juveniles and technical expertise to SMEs. This enables scalable, locally adapted aquaculture using existing infrastructure. Despite its promise, the approach must overcome long investment cycles and environmental risks such as mass mortality.

Blue technology and ocean observation

Challenge:

How can we develop ocean observation systems that are affordable, responsive, and adaptable to diverse environments?

Traditional underwater monitoring is often costly and static. blueOASIS asked participants to design a “Deploy-Anywhere Buoy,” a multi-functional tool capable of real-time ocean monitoring with integrated cameras, sensors, and acoustic technology.

Solutions:

Team 1 proposed a wave-powered marine drone with a docking station. This mobile platform, equipped with optical, infrared, acoustic, and chemical sensors, can travel several kilometers autonomously. AI integration reduces reliance on costly satellite data, making it ideal for illegal fishing detection, environmental assessments, and remote monitoring, especially in underserved coastal areas.

Team 2 introduced the Blue Oasis Buoy (BOB), a solar-powered buoy system designed to monitor the entire water column. It uses a layered sensor network (surface, mid-water, and benthic) to detect anomalies such as algal blooms and sediment plumes. BOB activates secondary sensors only when triggered by primary alerts, making it energy-efficient. Ultimately, it aims to support ecosystem management, sustainable fisheries, and the creation of a digital twin of the ocean.

The OC Team at the NOVA Impact Campus

Looking Ahead

This week provided valuable insights into the future of ocean innovation. It was inspiring to see what interdisciplinary teams could achieve in just a few days. Their solutions demonstrated how scientific expertise, entrepreneurial thinking, and cross-sector collaboration can unlock new ways to protect and regenerate our ocean.

We’re excited to follow the development of these ideas and to continue fostering innovation that supports a healthier, more resilient marine future.