Cohort 2025/26

Problem

Merchant seafarers communicate, document and monitor at the same time. Screen-based systems interrupt their workflow and add cognitive load while their hands are already busy.

What they built

BlueCore AI lets operators speak naturally to access information, check schedules and complete operational records. It turns spoken input into structured documentation without replacing professional judgement.

Impact

Crews stay focused and report faster. For maritime stakeholders, the concept shows how human-centred AI can improve efficiency while supporting well-being, privacy and trust.

Problem

The maritime sector expects an officer shortage above 5% by 2026. Fatigue, an industrial environment and isolation drive many officers out of the profession around age 30 to 35.

What they built

CustHome turns the crew's recreational room into a modular, customisable space. A guidance platform and the CustHome Patch fastening system let seafarers rearrange furniture to suit their activities.

Impact

Seafarers disconnect better and recover faster. The Deep Blue Foundation gains visibility among shipowners and strengthens its support for the maritime sector.

Problem

Distributed development teams lose context across time zones. Decisions become invisible, dependencies surface late and AI coding tools ignore team-specific workflows.

What they built

EGILA records why decisions are made, tracks dependencies as they form and captures trade-offs. AI agents use this knowledge to execute work while humans keep strategic control.

Impact

Less context loss and coordination overhead for teams. For enterprise sponsors, protected institutional knowledge and a safer path to AI adoption.

Problem

Recreational nitrous oxide canisters end up in household waste and explode in waste-to-energy facilities, damaging equipment and endangering staff. There is no accessible way to dispose of them.

What they built

Proxit makes local tobacco shops relay collection points. Users hand in canisters and receive 2€ each; once storage is full, the shop requests a Paprec pick-up within 48 hours.

Impact

Consumers dispose of canisters responsibly and shops earn 5€ per bottle. The city gets cleaner and waste-to-energy facilities safer.

Problem

Digital health tools remain fragmented and disease-focused. Takeda asked how a next-generation interface could integrate treatment, wellness and lifestyle into one continuous health journey.

What they built

A-Wake, an AI-powered mirror, runs daily voice and image check-ins and detects lesion changes over time. Twinnie stores the data in a patient-controlled profile and generates a one-pager before each appointment.

Impact

Patients track 90 days of symptom trends and arrive better prepared; clinicians decide faster. Takeda gains real-world longitudinal data on disease progression and treatment response.