INESCTEC.OCEAN | Where the land meets the sea
INESCTEC.OCEAN has one central commitment: a bluer ocean for a greener planet.
The Centre of Excellence in Ocean Research & Engineering, led by INESC TEC, aims to drive disruptive research, meaningful knowledge, and innovative solutions for the ocean.
From the shore to the deep sea, from Robotics to AI & Data, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to such a complex and multidimensional ecosystem.
Uniting science, industry, policymakers, and society, INESCTEC.OCEAN promotes an ideal Blue Economy based on cooperation, modernisation, and the responsible use of marine resources.
A sustainable symbiosis between humankind and the sea, fostering an ocean that is both productive and protected.
INESCTEC.OCEAN — Where the land meets the sea.
INESCTEC.OCEAN on ‘CNN Inovação’ | CNN Portugal
You missed INESCTEC.OCEAN’s special feature on CNN Portugal? Worry not: we brought you the full ‘CNN Inovação’ TV episode about the first Portuguese Centre of Excellence in Ocean Research & Engineering.
Led by INESC TEC, INESCTEC.OCEAN aims to drive global blue transformation through technology advancements, innovative solutions, and meaningful research into the multiple, complex dimensions of the sea ecosystem.
Within a vision of a cooperative Blue Economy, the Centre of Excellence’s multidisciplinary approach intends to promote an ocean that is both productive and protected.
For a more sustainable ocean; for a bluer planet; for a greener future.
Promo | INESCTEC.OCEAN on ‘CNN Inovação’ | CNN Portugal
The Centre of Excellence in Ocean Research & Engineering featured on an episode of “CNN Inovação” on CNN Portugal.
Watch the TV spot for this special report, looking at INESCTEC.OCEAN’s genesis, R&D+I activities, and ambitious goals towards a bluer ocean and a greener future for Portugal, Europe, and the world.
#InTheWorks | Powering the Atlantic: INESC TEC optical sensors support floating offshore wind
From the shore to the sea, monitoring and observation tasks are essential for successful offshore ventures.
How is INESC TEC contributing to Portuguese ocean energy technology advancements? Under the goals of the Energy Transition Alliance (ATE), our researchers have installed multiple optical sensors on a prototype of floating offshore wind turbine at Etermar’s HQ, in Setúbal.
The continous, real-time monitoring of the operational stage – including parameters such as humidity, temperature, and corrosion – will “guarantee that the longevity of this type of structures is high,” emphasises Luís Coelho, INESC TEC researcher involved in the project.
Retrieving marine litter with the IRIS AUV | NETTAG+ Final Demonstration on SIC
Lost, abandoned, and discarded fishing gear is not only a main issue for ocean protection, but also for fishers’ activity.
Tackling the problem requires a multidisciplinary approach and deep care for environmental, technological, economic, and societal concerns. From awareness among the fishing community to marine litter retrieval, NETTAG+ has come forward with solutions.
As shown by SIC, the project’s final demonstration in Póvoa de Varzim (Portugal) showcased how we can prevent, avoid, and mitigate ghost gear – especially with the help of INESC TEC’s IRIS autonomous underwater vehicle.
Check out how our AUV can detect and help collect lost equipment at sea, as explained by Alfredo Martins, INESC TEC researcher involved in the NETTAG+ project.
INESCTEC.OCEAN’s goal is not only to contribute to sustainable oceans, but also to a “Bluer” Economy. By valuing the active role of fishers, the solutions provided by NETTAG+ ensure a deep connection between technological advancements, environmental protection, and socio-economic concerns.
From prevention to retrieval: tackling ghost gear | NETTAG+ Final Demonstration on Euronews
After the tests in the Mediterranean, Póvoa de Varzim (Portugal) and the Atlantic hosted the project’s final event. For more than three years, fishers, scientists and engineers worked to tackle lost equipment and marine litter linked to the fishing activity.
IRIS, INESC TEC’s AUV, was one of the stars of the demonstration, showcasing how acoustic communications and autonomous navigation can contribute to an efficient location and recovery of fishing gear – as explained by Alfredo Martins, INESC TEC researcher involved in the project.
A key message is clear: fishers’ experience and active role have been central to designing practical solutions. From prevention to retrieval and policy recommendations, INESCTEC.OCEAN, project partners, and local communities paved the way for cleaner oceans and more sustainable fisheries.
See how Euronews highlights the innovative solutions and cooperation to turn the tide on ghost fishing gear.
EVA AUV tests in the Malaposta open-pit mine | MINE.IO Project
Less risk, more efficiency: how is underwater robotics helping in the exploration of flooded mines? In Malaposta, Portugal, the MINE.IO project has conducted an experiment with the Muon telescope technology and its robotic deployment process in an open-pit mine. With the help of INESC TEC’s EVA AUV, it was possible to deploy and retrieve the device autonomously, which had been collecting data about rock densities in the site.
Carlos Almeida and Paula Lima, INESC TEC researchers involved in the project, explain how these tests help develop and validate advanced autonomy and data integration features for underwater vehicles exploring flooded mines. “The Muon telescope needs to know specifically where it was deployed and its orientation. With our precise navigation of EVA, it’s possible to know exactly where it is positioned and recover it”, says Carlos Almeida.
The same technologies and processes will now be further tested at the Urgeiriça mine, near Viseu. All the results shall contribute to MINE.IO’s goals regarding the digital transformation of mining operations, ensuring worker’s safety while enabling continuous, autonomous activity.
The Holistic Digital Mine 4.0 Ecosystem is a European project focused on industrialisation, informatisation and sustainable development of the mining sector. MINE.IO has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101091885. INESC TEC led the demonstration in the Malaposta site, involving project partners MUON Solutions and WRCP.