Sixteen candidates will compete for two Neptune Awards, one Ocean Enterprise Award, and two Florida Environmental Impact Awards. Ten are from the USA, one from Canada, two from Europe, one from North Africa, one from the Middle East, and one from Asia. Solutions fall into the following categories: aquaculture, carbon management, water management, data generation, shipping, coastal management, alternative materials, autonomy and robotics, and waste management. The winners for each award will be chosen based on the impact, level of innovation, and the ability to execute the solution. Delegates representing business, academia, government, and nonprofits will vote for the five winners.
The two Neptune Awards will be given to solutions that advance our understanding of the ocean and help to minimize our impact on these resources, resulting in more resilient bodies of water, including healthy marine life and coastlines. The one new Ocean Enterprise Award will go to a solution that supports ocean observations, delivers improved data and services, and enables the growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy oceans. The two Florida Environmental Impact Awards will recognize startups advancing innovative solutions that strengthen water quality, coastal ecosystems, fisheries, habitats, and resilience.
“This year’s event marks the 15th anniversary of the Ocean Exchange awards competition. Since the beginning, we have always been focused on searching for and rewarding Solutions Inspiring Action. These are innovative, proactive, and scalable solutions with working prototypes that can leap across industries, economies, and cultures—innovations that generate economic growth and increased productivity, while reducing the use of nature’s resources and waste. It is so encouraging to see that our approach has been embraced by so many promising, nascent companies around the world,” noted Millicent Pitts, Executive Director of Ocean Exchange.
Finalists for 2026 are: AC Biode (Japan), AIMM (US), AmHyTech (US), Amphitrite (Canada), BeamSea Associates (US), Chitelix (Tunisia), Disperse Bio (Israel), Hybrid Reefs (US), Ignition Packaging (US), Konree Innovation (Ireland), Ocean Alliance (US), Ocean State Sensing (US), OctaPulse (US), Subtidal (US), TITANIUM TECHNOLOGY S.L. (Spain), VyCarb (US). For more information about the event and Ocean Exchange’s mission, visit oceanexchange.org.
