Advancing autonomous maritime systems for a safer Baltic Sea

Through the Baltic Marine Watchdog Challenge, Vinnova will provide funding of up to EUR 520,000 per team for bold ideas and novel approaches that can contribute to the future security of the Baltic Sea region and its marine environment.

“We are looking for teams from across Europe that want to develop advanced technologies and systems addressing a real societal need. This could include start-ups, researchers and companies with the ambition and courage to tackle challenges where the path forward is not yet clear,” says Anna Bergstrand, Programme Manager at Vinnova.

The challenge is open to applicants from the EU, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom. In addition to funding, participating teams will have access to testing environments, expert support and dialogue with end users.

Driving Innovation in Breakthrough Technologies

The Baltic Marine Watchdog Challenge is launched by Vinnova and builds on the model developed through the collaboration between Vinnova and Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation, SPRIND. The approach is designed to accelerate innovation in breakthrough technologies, particularly in areas characterised by high uncertainty but significant potential to deliver societal value.

According to Darja Isaksson, Director General of Vinnova, this model offers important opportunities for Europe.

“Europe has the knowledge and the talent. What we need more of is the courage to take risks, set ambitious goals and create the conditions for breakthroughs that strengthen both our competitiveness and our long-term resilience,” says Darja Isaksson.

Acting as a First Customer to Accelerate Innovation

By procuring solutions and acting as a first customer, in close collaboration with public authorities and other stakeholders, Vinnova can help accelerate the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies. The approach also supports the creation of new capabilities in areas of strategic importance for Sweden and Europe.

The Baltic Marine Watchdog Challenge is part of Vinnova’s broader Språng Challenge initiative, looking for teams capable of driving breakthrough innovation through bold and unconventional approaches. Through funding, testing, and iterative development, promising solutions will be advanced and demonstrated in realistic operational environments.

Many of the societal challenges facing Sweden and Europe today cannot be addressed through incremental improvements alone. They require innovation leaps that create entirely new capabilities and open up new opportunities. The focus is therefore on enabling breakthroughs rather than minimising risk. Multiple teams will develop solutions in parallel, with concepts continuously tested and demonstrated. Solutions that prove successful have the potential to transform both society and markets by creating entirely new capabilities and opportunities.

About the Baltic Marine Watchdog Challenge

The challenge focuses on the development of autonomous maritime systems that can operate in complex environments and support situational awareness, security and resilience in the Baltic Sea region. By bringing together innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and teams from across Europe, the initiative seeks to unlock new technological capabilities and strengthen Europe’s capacity to address maritime challenges.