SaferSEA, a project co-funded by the European Union in which UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto is a partner, will select three start-ups, SMEs and technology and innovation centres with maritime products, solutions or technologies at an advanced stage of development. Those selected will receive up to €5,000 and have the opportunity to test and validate their pilot project at the facilities of the SaferSEA consortium partners, under real operating conditions.

The call for proposals is aimed at startups, SMEs and technology and innovation centres with products, solutions or technologies at an advanced stage that can be tested and validated at the facilities of the project consortium’s partners, under real operating conditions. SaferSEA is seeking technologies aligned with some of the major challenges facing the maritime sector, such as maritime safety and traffic management, the decarbonisation of maritime transport, the reduction of environmental impact and risk prevention.

The evaluation of applications will be the responsibility of the project’s Portuguese partners: UPTEC and Sines Tecnopolo. The selected pilots will also have the opportunity to participate in Sea Tech Week, a leading international event in the maritime and technology sector, which will take place on 6 and 7 September 2026 in Brest, France.

Interested organisations can know more by consulting the full Call for Pilots and apply using the dedicated form until April 8.

About SaferSEA

SaferSEA is a European project co-funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme 2021–2027, which aims to contribute to a safer and more environmentally sustainable maritime sector. The project promotes the development and testing of new technologies applicable to ships and ports, strengthening cooperation between port authorities, researchers, start-ups and other relevant entities in the Atlantic Area.

The consortium comprises six partner organisations: Technopôle Brest-Iroise (France), CEEI Bahía de Cádiz (Spain), Sines Tecnopolo (Portugal), Cedre (France), AxisBIC (Ireland), and UPTEC.

18 March 2026