Barcolana AI Sea Hackathon

8 October will also mark the launch of the Barcolana AI Sea Hackathon, an Open Innovation challenge that will take the project beyond the Summit itself.

The call will be open to students, researchers, developers, designers, innovators, businesses, start-ups and multidisciplinary teams, who will be invited to develop practical solutions for the marine environment and sustainability.

Applications will remain open until December 2026, leading up to the Hackathon scheduled for January 2027, with a total prize fund of €9,000. Selected solutions will then have the opportunity to take part in a support and development programme throughout 2027, culminating in a final Demo Day in the autumn.

An app for marine sustainability

Alongside the Hackathon, the Barcolana AI Sea Summit will also see the development of a new app dedicated to the marine environment and sustainability, as a standalone project separate from the competition.

The aim is to use digital tools and artificial intelligence to raise environmental awareness, encourage more sustainable behaviour and promote a more efficient use of resources.