A new marine innovation programme has been launched in the UK to help start-ups and innovators develop new solutions that support the development of the Blue Economy.
The first challenge of the UK Hydrographic Office’s ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme is to identify, trial and prove how navigational data can be used to support the safe navigation of Marine Autonomous Surface Ships.
Participants will gain access to ADMIRALTY data sets that range from seabed composition samples and bathymetric profiles of the seafloor, to tidal and navigational information.
Mark Casey, head of research, design and innovation at the UK Hydrographic Office, said: “We believe that our challenges will support innovation across the Blue Economy and encourage digital leaders to use marine geospatial data in new and varied ways.”
The Blue Economy is estimated to be worth GB£3.2 trillion by 2030. Marine geospatial data will play an essential role in supporting this growth by enabling the identification of new areas for tidal and wind energy generation, supporting safe navigation for larger autonomous ships, playing a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change and more.
Successful innovation programme participants will develop their own solutions for these areas, using ADMIRALTY data sets that range from seabed composition samples and bathymetric profiles of the seafloor, to tidal and navigational information.
Subsequent challenges will invite innovators to develop solutions for areas including maritime insurance, tidal and wave energy generation, blue carbon sequestration and sea-level rise modelling.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
