Blue Tech Europe 2026: Marine observing technologies
Session 2: New technology and academia-to-industry transfer (software)
Session 4: Industry and society as drivers of ocean observation
Aligned with the European Union’s Ocean Pact and the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Blue Tech Europe Conference will showcase technological developments from the academic sector. The conference will focus on strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, while identifying pathways to support local growth and reinforce Europe’s competitiveness in blue technologies.
Reliable and high-quality ocean data is increasingly critical for society, industry, and the scientific community. While existing infrastructures and emerging initiatives have begun deploying Marine Observation Systems across a range of platforms, significant gaps remain in coverage and technological capabilities, hindering progress towards robust modelling and predictability of marine systems.
Addressing these challenges, the Blue Tech Europe Conference aims to catalyse a sensor industry in Europe by fostering constructive dialogue between government, industry, research, and investment actors. The conference will highlight key challenges and showcase innovations that can contribute to a competitive and innovative sensor industry on the continent.
Establish European autonomy in sensor and marine technology development.
Showcase EU-designed technologies for scalable, autonomous observation systems.
Discuss how industry can integrate, standardise, and scale observation and data services.
- Session 1: Establishing European autonomy in sensors and marine technology development
Day 1, 21 April 2026-
Nicolas Pade (Executive Director, EMBRC)
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Emina MAMACA (Policy Officer, DG RTD)
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Jan-Stefan Fritz (Managing Director of the German Marine Research Consortium)
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& more to come
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- Session 2: New technology and academia-to-industry transfer (software)
Day 1, 21 April 2026-
Hege GUNDERSEN (Senior Research Scientist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA)
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Kasper Hancke (Senior Researcher at Norwegian Institute for Water Research)
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Melilotus Thyssen (Research Scientist, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, CNRS)
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Hans Jakobsen (Senior Researcher, Aarhus University)
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Sophie PITOIS, (Principal plankton ecologist, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, CEFAS)
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Jacob Carstensen (Professor, Aarhus University)
- & more to come
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- Session 3: New technology and academia-to-industry transfer (hardware)
Day 2, 22 April 2026-
Patrizio Mariani (Professor, Technical University of Denmark)
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Julie Robidart (Senior Lecturer, National Oceanography Centre)
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Carmem-Lara MANES (Research Director, Observatoire océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer)
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& more to come
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- Session 4: Industry and society as drivers of ocean observation
Day 2, 22 April 2026-
Lucy Hunt (Ocean Impact Director, The Ocean Race)
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Verena Meraldi (Chief Scientist, Hurtigruten Expeditions)
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Viviana Piermattei (Coordinator SMHI / CS MACH-1, Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, CMCC))
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Toste Tanhua (Research Group Leader, GEOMAR)
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& more to come
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EMBRC HQ
Seascape Belgium
GEOMAR
EMBRC HQ
Aarhus University
