The Blue Waves Startup Contest is a new call for solutions aimed at start-ups driving innovation in the Blue Economy: the sea, the nautical sector, logistics, tourism, energy, research and technology. The related economic activities are those linked to oceans, seas and coastlines: traditional sectors, technological innovation, sustainability and new supply chains.
Organised by Clickutility Team and CyberTribu, the initiative is part of Naples Shipping Week 2026, a week dedicated to maritime culture and the maritime economy in Naples, Italy, that brings together leading representatives of the maritime cluster from around the world, with the participation of organisations from both the public and private sectors.
The competition will take place on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2026 at the Stazione Marittima Conference Centre in Naples, alongside the Main Conference of Port&ShippingTech – one of the leading national and international events for the maritime and port sector, dedicated to bringing together professionals to discuss the most advanced technological innovations aimed at developing the logistics and maritime sector.
The opportunities for young companies
Up to 10 start-ups will be selected from among the projects submitted to progress to the final stage of the Blue Waves Startup Contest: these young enterprises will have the opportunity to present their project to a technical jury and industry stakeholders, engage with businesses and institutions, and take part in training and networking sessions.
The selection process will take into account the quality and stage of development of the project, its innovative nature, its alignment with the Blue Economy sectors, and its potential impact on the maritime, port, logistics, energy, tourism or environmental sectors.
On the morning of Thursday 29 October, the finalist start-ups will be able to take part, free of charge, in a training and workshop session focused on business growth and preparing for the final presentation.
- “Idea to Enterprise”, a one-hour session dedicated to the transition from idea to concrete project implementation;
- a one-hour public speaking workshop;
- two hours of collaborative work with the participating start-ups.
Furthermore, representatives from the top three start-ups will be invited to attend the Networking Dinner on Friday 30 October, an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with businesses, institutions and professionals from the maritime sector. Finally, the winning start-up will also be awarded a prize to support the development of its project. Full details will be announced before the final stage of the competition.
How to apply for the competition
Applications for the Blue Waves Startup Contest are open until Friday 16 October 2026. Eligible to apply are established start-ups – those set up less than five years ago and with a turnover of less than €500,000 – and teams that have developed a concrete project, even if they have not yet been incorporated as a company.
Projects must operate in at least one of the following areas of the Blue Economy:
- Marine Resources, Bioeconomy, Water, and Energy: Blue Biotechnology, Marine living resources, Marine non-living resources, Desalination, Marine renewable energy, Coastal tourism;
- Maritime Industry, Infrastructure, and Logistics: Maritime transport, Land logistics and intermodal port hubs, Shipbuilding and repair, Infrastructure and robotics, Maritime defence, Research and innovation.
To take part, the applicant must submit a clear description of the proposed project by completing the registration form and attaching a presentation in PDF or PPT format. During the event, start-ups will have 4–5 minutes for each pitch, followed by any questions from the judging panel.
Should a start-up be selected as one of the 10 finalists, it will be required to attend the event at the Stazione Marittima Convention Centre in Naples on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2026: before applying, each team is therefore asked to check that they are available to travel to Naples and take part on both days. To facilitate participation in training sessions, meetings and networking opportunities, it is recommended that each start-up be represented by two or three representatives.
Further information about the initiative and the rules for taking part in it is available on the official website of the event.
