SeaCras has been selected to join the Sedrah Accelerator Program 2026, led by EWAx within Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The programme brings SeaCras closer to one of the world’s most ambitious sustainability ecosystems, where environmental protection, water security and technology-led growth are advancing side by side. As one of 10 startups selected from hundreds of applications, SeaCras will contribute its Coastal Intelligence system, combining satellite Earth observation, artificial intelligence and environmental science to support better decisions across Saudi Arabia’s coastal,aquatic environments and biodiversity protection and conservation.
Supporting Environmental Innovation Through the Sedrah Program
The Sedrah Program is dedicated to strengthening entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia’s environmental sector. It supports startups and entrepreneurs developing innovative responses to environmental challenges while building the wider conditions needed for these solutions to grow, from access to expertise and investment to regulatory development, market opportunities and partnerships.
Its priority areas include water quality, biodiversity, air quality, meteorology, waste management, soil quality and desertification. Sedrah specifically recognises the role of satellite technology, environmental monitoring, sensing, geographic information systems, artificial intelligence and data analysis, creating a strong strategic fit with SeaCras’ approach.
EWAx and MEWA: Building an Ecosystem for Environmental Entrepreneurship
Sedrah is run through EWAx, the General Administration for Entrepreneurship within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. EWAx supports entrepreneurship and business development across the environment, water and agriculture sectors, connecting innovators with the institutions, investors and market actors needed to turn promising technologies into deployable solutions.
MEWA plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s transition towards more sustainable management of natural resources. Its responsibilities span environmental protection, water security, agriculture and food security, with technology, research and private-sector participation increasingly important to the implementation of national priorities.
‘Coastal Intelligence’ Aligned With the Saudi Green Initiative
SeaCras’ participation also connects with the wider direction of the Saudi Green Initiative, which brings together climate action, environmental protection and land and sea conservation under a national framework. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to reduce emissions, expand protected areas, restore ecosystems and reach net-zero emissions by 2060 through the Circular Carbon Economy approach.
For coastal and aquatic environments, progress depends on the ability to understand environmental change at scale and act on reliable information. SeaCras transforms satellite observations and scientific data into actionable intelligence, helping organisations identify risks, monitor environmental conditions and strengthen evidence-based planning.
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030 Through Scalable Environmental Technology
Environmental sustainability is an integral part of Saudi Vision 2030, alongside economic diversification, innovation and stronger private-sector participation. The Vision includes objectives related to reducing pollution, safeguarding ecosystems and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.
SeaCras has been adopted to One of 1,000 Ocean Startups initiative, joining a global community of companies working to develop and scale solutions for a healthier ocean.
Led by 1000 Ocean Startups and World Economic Forum, the initiative connects some of the most promising ocean innovators with a wider ecosystem of investors, accelerators, competitions, matching platforms and organisations supporting ocean impact. By strengthening connections between promising technologies, investment and organisations capable of putting them into practice, the coalition also gives greater visibility to solutions already demonstrating how innovation can contribute to healthier and more resilient ocean ecosystems.
The coalition’s ambition is clear: help scale at least 1,000 transformative startups by the end of the UN Ocean Decade and contribute to the restoration of ocean health and the objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
SeaCras was invited to join the initiative during the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where its solutions were showcased at both the World Economic Forum (WEF) booth and the Digital Twin of the Ocean booth.
For us, being included among these companies is both an important recognition of our work and an opportunity to contribute to a much wider movement.
From Ocean Innovation to Scalable Environmental Impact
Protecting marine and coastal ecosystems increasingly depends on turning scientific knowledge and new technology into solutions that can work at scale. Below are a few examples of our work where we can point to clear, measurable environmental impact and tangible results:
The recognition also reinforces the importance of collaboration in addressing challenges that extend far beyond individual organisations, sectors or borders. No single technology or company can solve the pressures facing marine ecosystems. Progress depends on an ecosystem of solutions that can complement one another and scale.
We look forward to contributing to that ecosystem and continuing to turn innovation into practical tools for better ocean management.
SeaCras’s position is that the future of scalable and improved global marine monitoring is digital and from space. That is why we are committed to pushing forward the much-needed technologies behind the 1 of 1000 Ocean Startups and OceanEye initiatives.
One solution will not save the ocean. But 1,000 might.
SeaCras CEO Mario Špadina, PhD, joined global leaders in Dalian, China, for the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026, widely known as Summer Davos.
Held from 23 to 25 June under the theme “Innovating at Scale”, the meeting brought together more than 1,800 leaders from business, government, academia and international organisations across more than 200 sessions, according to the World Economic Forum.
SeaCras participated in a curated program organised by Uplink, World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation engine. Sessions included Uplink network members and alumni, but also invited representatives of governments, IGOs, NGOs, and companies. The name of the game was to find a way to bridge the gap between existing environmental societal and economical hurdles by Theory of Change.
Dalian was also a particularly relevant setting for SeaCras, being one of China’s major maritime centres, and the visit included several important moments:
invited visits to the leadership of the city and region of Dalian
a visit to Dalian Maritime University
a national television interview with Mario on bringing oceanographic science closer to business, decision-making, and environmental management
For SeaCras, World Economic Forum’s UpLink network member, the gathering was a valuable opportunity to bring coastal and marine technology into a wider conversation about how innovation moves from promising ideas to practical systems that support economies, communities and the environment.
But before we go into more details about the event, let’s remind you of what Summer Davos is.
AMNC26 and Why Is It Called ‘Summer Davos’
Often described as Summer Davos, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions is the World Economic Forum’s flagship China-based gathering, established in 2007 to spotlight entrepreneurship, innovation, emerging economies and the companies shaping the next generation of global growth. Its name links it to the Forum’s winter meeting in Davos, while reflecting its summer timing and stronger focus on technology, new business models and Asia’s changing economic landscape.
For China, it is an important platform for presenting its economic priorities and engaging with international leaders, while globally it helps frame how developments across China and Asia may influence investment, innovation and growth worldwide. The meeting alternates between Dalian and Tianjin, two major coastal cities that have become integral to its identity: Dalian brings the international outlook of a leading port and innovation hub, while Tianjin reflects the industrial strength and strategic importance of northern China.
The Annual Meeting of the New Champions has become one of the World Economic Forum’s leading global platforms for science, technology, entrepreneurship and next-generation growth companies. This year’s programme focused on how emerging technologies, shifting markets, advanced manufacturing, AI, energy transition and global competitiveness can shape the next phase of economic progress.
SeaCras’ Active Role at the AMNC26
Our CEO represented SeaCras throughout the event, returning from Dalian with new connections, new perspectives and stronger momentum for the work ahead. As part of the UpLink – World Economic Forum network, Dr. Špadina took an active role in conversations on how technological progress can move from global discussion to practical use, especially in areas where oceanographic science, business, decision-making and environmental management increasingly meet.
Being featured in this year’s UpLink Annual Impact Report as one of only 11 case studies is a strong validation of the direction SeaCras is taking. For us, it confirms that our work in marine and coastal monitoring is creating measurable value and gaining recognition on a global stage.
It also reflects the momentum behind SeaCras: a growing team, stronger technological capabilities and partnerships that are bringing environmental intelligence into real-world monitoring systems. More than a milestone, this recognition reinforces our ambition to make reliable, scalable environmental data a foundation for better decisions worldwide.
As part of the AMNC26 programme, Mario also attended the UpLink Welcomeand UpLink Dinner. The visit also included several important moments connected to Dalian’s role as one of China’s major maritime centres, including:
Invitation to present our company at Dalian District Government Office for the expert delegation
Invitation to visit Dalian Ocean University
Our CEO’s interview with China’s television network, discussing how oceanographic science can better support business, decision-making, and environmental management
Together, these moments brought oceanographic science closer to the institutions, businesses, and decision-makers shaping one of China’s key maritime regions.
Scaling Innovation for Coastal and Marine Resilience
The theme of this year’s meeting, “Innovating at Scale”, closely reflects the challenge SeaCras works on every day: turning complex environmental data into reliable insight for the people responsible for protecting coastal areas, ports, marine ecosystems and blue economy assets.
From satellite-based monitoring to AI-supported environmental analysis, coastal technology is no longer a niche topic. It is becoming part of how destinations, public institutions and private operators understand risk, measure impact and make better decisions around the sea.
Being present at AMNC26 gave SeaCras the chance to connect its work with a broader global agenda: one where innovation is expected to leave the conference room and prove its value in the real world.
For us, Dalian was not only a meeting point for technology and policy. It was a reminder that the future of coastal resilience will depend on collaboration across sectors, borders and disciplines, and on solutions that can work where they are needed most.
Global Innovation Summit 2026 — From European-funded R&D project to Real-World Marine Intelligence Product used globally
Basel brought together an international innovation community for the Global Innovation Summit 2026, organised within Eureka Network, the world’s largest network for collaborative innovation.
SeaCras’ CEO Mario Špadina, PhD, joined the Croatian delegation, supported by HAMAG-BICRO – Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments, which helps companies turn research, technology and business potential into market-ready growth.
For SeaCras, the event was also closely connected to a wider Eureka success story. Eureka Network currently features a project led by SeaCras as one of Croatia’s flagship examples of how international R&D cooperation can help move advanced technology from research into operational use.
The product’s development was funded through the Eurostars project Sar2dem, where SeaCras developed a next-generation, two-way detection system for fuel spills and leakages. By combining optical and SAR satellite data, the system leverages a wide range of sources, from medium-resolution Sentinel constellations to high-spatial-resolution commercial imagery.
This matters because marine pollution detection is becoming more than an environmental issue. For ports, maritime authorities, cruise destinations, coastal communities and blue economy stakeholders, it is also an operational, reputational and compliance challenge.
SeaCras’ work shows how satellite data, AI-powered analysis and marine science can be turned into practical coastal intelligence — helping stakeholders detect pollution earlier, understand what is happening at sea and respond with greater confidence.
We also acknowledge the role of and thank HAMAG-BICRO in supporting the successful management and completion of the project.
This year’s Global Innovation Summit focused on biotech and enabling technologies around it, including digitalisation, translational R&D, chemistry, manufacturing, control and quality processes. For companies working at the intersection of science, technology and real-world environmental challenges, gatherings like this matter because innovation rarely moves forward in isolation. It advances through international cooperation, shared expertise and the right networks around the table.
Recognition of SeaCras by Eureka Network
That same logic is reflected in SeaCras’ recent recognition by Eureka Network, which featured the company as a Croatian example of how collaborative R&D can turn advanced marine technology into operational coastal intelligence. The recognition highlights SeaCras’ Eurostars-supported work in detecting and tracking ocean fuel spills – a capability increasingly important for ports, maritime authorities, coastal destinations and industries that depend on cleaner, safer and more resilient waters.
For organisations operating across the blue economy, fuel spill detection is no longer only an environmental topic. It is also an operational, reputational and compliance challenge. Small leaks, thin surface films and sudden pollution events can be difficult to identify quickly, especially in complex coastal waters where traditional monitoring may struggle with resolution, coverage and response speed.
SeaCras addresses this gap by combining satellite imagery, AI-powered analysis and marine science expertise. Instead of treating Earth observation data as a distant technical layer, the company turns it into actionable coastal intelligence that helps stakeholders understand what is happening at sea and decide what to do next.
From European R&D Support to Operational Marine Pollution Monitoring
Through the Sar2dem project, funded by Eureka Network, SeaCras strengthened its ability to detect oil and fuel pollution in territorial and coastal waters using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data, supported by additional commercial satellite sources where higher spatial or temporal resolution is needed. This makes the approach relevant for ports, marinas, bays, shipping routes and nearshore areas where early warning can limit environmental and economic damage.
“Eurostars helped us not only by providing much-needed funding in the product development phase, but SeaCras also benefited from the network visibility and proof of excellence. Furthermore, SeaCras utilised the Horizon IP Scan service, which was included as the part of the package of services for grant awardees.”
Mario Špadina, founder and CEO at SeaCras
This support helped SeaCras strengthen not only the technology itself, but also the strategic foundation around it, from visibility and credibility to intellectual-property readiness. For partners and clients, that matters. It signals that SeaCras’ solutions are rooted in validated R&D, shaped by international collaboration and developed with a clear path toward practical deployment.
Today, SeaCras’ Coastal Intelligence helps stakeholders improve marine pollution monitoring, support response planning and build stronger evidence for sustainable marine management. For ports, cruise destinations, maritime transport operators, public authorities and coastal communities, the value is clear: earlier detection, better insight and more confidence when decisions must be made quickly.
Following the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, SeaCras and Center of Excellence MARBLE met on May 12, 2026, to move the partnership from shared intent into concrete next steps. The meeting focused on practical opportunities for collaboration across maritime technologies, robotics, coastal monitoring, and sustainable blue economy initiatives.
From shared vision to joint R&D opportunities
The discussion opened several areas of mutual interest, including joint research and development, future pilot activities, and the use of advanced technologies to support safer, cleaner, and more resilient marine environments.
For SeaCras, the meeting represents an important step in connecting satellite-based marine intelligence with the wider maritime robotics technology developers and providers. SeaCras develops solutions for sea monitoring and coastal surveillance based on high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced data processing, with applications ranging from pollution detection to environmental reporting and smarter spatial planning at sea.
CoE MARBLE brings strong research and infrastructure capabilities to the partnership. The Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy is focused on key areas such as maritime robotics and autonomous systems, green endurance, maritime IoT, and digital twins, with applications across maritime security, aquaculture, coastal tourism, smart marinas, and maritime transportation.
Building stronger maritime technology from Croatia
The MoU between SeaCras and CoE MARBLE establishes a framework for public-private partnerships as they are meant to be — transparent, agile and with sharing of knowledge and the technology, with the goal of public good.
This collaboration also reflects a wider shift in the blue economy: innovation is no longer limited to isolated research or individual technology platforms. Real progress happens when scientific expertise, operational needs, and market-ready solutions meet.
Want to explore how satellite-based marine intelligence could support your port, coastline, marina, or maritime operations? Contact the SeaCras team to discuss practical use cases and collaboration opportunities.
SeaCras CEO and Co-founder Mario Špadina took the stage at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference 2026 — held April 27–30 in Ambergris Caye, Belize — bringing a message the industry needed to hear.
The conference, themed Tourism in Full Color, gathered tourism ministers, researchers, and innovators from across the Caribbean and beyond to tackle one of the sector’s most urgent challenges: integrating blue, green, orange, and beyond economies into a coherent, resilient development framework. Over 400 attendees. Dozens of destinations. One shared problem.
The Real Threat Isn’t What’s Coming — It’s What We Think We Already Know
Tourism boards and destination planners are making decisions today based on behavioural patterns, traveller profiles, and market assumptions that are 20 or 30 years old. The world has moved. The data hasn’t.
That disconnect is exactly what SeaCras is built to solve. Speaking on a panel alongside Maya Trotz from the University of South Florida, Ana Frias from Rome2Rio, and Daniel Galpin from ICF, Špadina outlined how intelligence technologies can strip out institutional bias — the kind that keeps organizations anchored to “what worked before” — and replace it with statistically confident, real-time analysis of how markets and travelers actually behave today.
The discussion centered on the yellow economy as the connective tissue between all other economic pillars: not a buzzword, but a practical framework for integrating human capital, creativity, and culture into sustainable planning. SeaCras sees data as the missing infrastructure layer that makes that integration possible.
For destinations across the Caribbean and beyond, the value proposition is concrete: better predictions, earlier warnings, smarter allocation of tourism investment — before threats become crises.
This is the type of applied intelligence SeaCras delivers — moving organizations from reactive management to proactive strategy, with the data to back every decision and provide top-level sustainability consultancy.
A thank you to the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Belize Tourism Board for creating the space for these conversations. The work of building a more resilient, more connected global tourism ecosystem starts at tables like this one.
Why the Caribbean Is a Test Case for Sustainable Tourism Intelligence
That context matters because the Caribbean’s greatest tourism assets are also its biggest exposure points. Coastlines, reefs, marine ecosystems, cultural heritage, and small communities are what make the region globally desirable — but they are also directly tied to climate risk, disaster readiness, infrastructure pressure, and the ability to plan beyond the next season. The World Bank notes that tourism-dependent Caribbean economies are already facing climate-related vulnerabilities, high import and energy costs, and the wider economic impact of natural disasters.
Belize made that tension especially visible. As host destination, it brought a tourism story built around marine biodiversity, cultural heritage, protected landscapes, and sustainable tourism in practice. The STC programme did not treat these as separate topics. Field visits, ministerial roundtables, technical sessions, and discussions on blue and green finance all pointed to the same conclusion: tourism development now has to connect environmental protection, community value, investment decisions, and operational resilience in one model.
The same direction was reflected in the 2026 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards, where CTO recognised initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, community empowerment, cultural preservation, and climate resilience. In other words, the region is not discussing sustainability as a branding exercise. It is building a practical agenda around the systems, partnerships, and intelligence needed to protect what tourism depends on.
That is where SeaCras’ perspective fits naturally into the CTO agenda. If destinations are expected to grow while protecting the ecosystems and communities that make them attractive in the first place, they need more than retrospective reporting. They need intelligence that can connect environmental signals, traveller behaviour, market demand, and operational risk early enough to support action.
For SeaCras, the Caribbean is not just another market conversation. It is a clear example of why sustainable tourism needs better data infrastructure: to help destinations see pressure points sooner, allocate resources smarter, and make resilience measurable before disruption turns into crisis.
Interested in how SeaCras can help your destination or organization get ahead of the curve? Get in touch.
