UC Solutions Award’ for a proposal by IHCantabria on the study and planning of the POEM R&D areas: pillars of blue innovation in Cantabria.

The project proposes to evaluate the environmental, socioeconomic and technological potential of R&D&I areas of the Maritime Spatial Plans (POEM), in order to strengthen cooperation between science, industry and administrations

A team of researchers from the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria) won one of the “UC Solutions Awards”, organized by the University of Cantabria (UC) within the framework of the “Chair of Safety, Planning and Industrial Competitiveness Program”, funded by the Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade of the Government of Cantabria.

These awards are part of the “Action to promote industrial competitiveness in the UC” and recognize seven proposals that have distinguished themselves for their quality, viability, industrial and social impact; as well as for the ability of the research teams to address seven technological challenges of regional interest.

Several university research groups participated in the call for these awards. IHCantabria won the prize corresponding to challenge 7, dedicated to the study of the market for research and development areas reserved in the Maritime Spatial Management Plans (POEM). The winning project of challenge 7 is entitled “Study and planning of POEM R&D zones as pillars of blue innovation in Cantabria”; it was proposed by a team from IHCantabria led by Daniel Depellegrin, Ramón y Cajal researcher; Francisco Royano Gutiérrez, director of Technology Transfer, and technology transfer technician, Miguel Alexander Macedo Zegarra.

The winning project is based on the premise that the four designated areas in the region -Ubiarco, Virgen del Mar, H2Flot and Santoña- are ideal sites for testing emerging marine technologies, although a comprehensive assessment of their environmental, socioeconomic and technological readiness has not yet been carried out. The proposal proposes a detailed analysis of their development potential, as well as the identification of future uses, linked to floating wind energy, green hydrogen production, ocean digital twins and advanced environmental monitoring.

The plan also includes the study of the actors that make up the Blue Innovation ecosystem, with the creation of a database of startups, R&D institutions and investors, as well as the design of an acceleration program. Likewise, the development of a technology-space matrix, identified with the acronym OTech-OS, to assign maritime technologies to specific spatial contexts is also contemplated. In addition, the creation of the Atlantic Blue Marketplace digital platform is proposed, conceived as a virtual marketplace for ocean technologies, to connect innovators, researchers and investors. In addition to these actions, management and dissemination activities, such as the Ocean Tech Pitch events, informative materials, dynamic data panels and STEM educational programs will be carried out.

According to researcher Daniel Depellegrin, this recognition has a double value: “Receiving this award is a recognition of the work of the research team and provides resources to develop an ambitious initiative. For me, it is an opportunity to lead a pioneering project that combines environmental research, technological innovation and economic development”. The award is also important for IHCantabria because “it reinforces its role as a center of excellence in marine research and technology transfer. By addressing the R&D&I areas of the POEM, the project will contribute to enhance regional infrastructures, attract investments and foster collaboration between science, industry and administrations, which consolidates IHCantabria, and Cantabria in general, as a hub of innovation in the blue economy,” adds Depellegrin.

Awards promoting inter-institutional cooperation

The call for the “UC Solutions Awards” is an initiative that is part of the collaboration between the University of Cantabria and the Department of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade of the Government of Cantabria; specifically, in the project “Security, Planning and Industrial Competitiveness Chair”. Its objective is to promote the modernization and industrial transformation in Cantabria, as well as to strengthen the collaboration between academia, industry and public bodies, in order to promote competitiveness.

The “UC Solutions Award” to be received by researcher Daniel Depellegrin ─as leader of the IHCantabria team that developed the winning proposal of the 7─ technological challenge ─ is endowed with 3,000 euros and an accrediting diploma.

The call for this award was published on May 22 of this year and, at the end of July, the resolution of the Vice-rectorate for Research, Transfer and Doctorate was announced. On October 5, the award ceremony for the “UC SOLUTIONS Awards” of the Chair in Security, Planning and Industrial Competitiveness Program was held at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the University of Cantabria.