During Innovation Day on 7th March in Karlskrona, Sweden, this year’s winners of the Stena Line Propeller Prize 2019 were announced. The SEK 100,000 (US$10,560) award was handed out in two categories, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Marine technology, where the first international company was awarded since the Prize was first held in 2015.

 

The Stena Line Propeller Prize is an entrepreneurial award granted annually to encourage new companies and partnerships – within both the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Maritime Technology space – that enrich and develop the business climate in the Baltic Sea region.

 

Lifebuoy sensor

 

The winner in the ICT category, AllBinary, is committed to helping cities and industries reap the full benefit of the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution, offering both products and services. One of the examples they presented was a sensor to attach to lifebuoys, enabling the municipality to know when one needed replacement, and thus ensuring there is always one available in time of need. 

 

“A simple, useful and innovative way to use sensors in a platform. It’s very clear how this product can bring large savings and other benefits to society in terms of efficiency and increased safety,” said Monica Strandhag, Trade Manager of Baltic Sea South at Stena Line and Chairman of the Propeller Prize Jury.

 

Unmanned Surface Vehicles

 

The winner in the Marine technology category, Searis Technologies, focuses on designing and producing Unmanned Surface Vehicles for hydrographic and scientific applications. Their product has been used by researchers exploring the melting polar caps, enabling them to conduct their research from a safe distance.

 

“Searis Technologies’ idea has a high degree of innovation and its benefits has been proven in real life and in a tough environment,” continued Ms. Strandhag. “The product has a potential to save lives and to enable important research regarding climate change with less risk. We also see a good potential for this product to be scalable into other business areas.”

 

Searis Technologies was also the first ever international company to win the Stena Line Propeller Prize.

 

“There has been an all-time high in applications this year, from all over the Baltic Sea region which we are very happy about. And we hope Searis Technologies, as the first international winner, will inspire even more international companies to apply next year,” Ms Strandhag remarked.

 

The Digital, eHealth and Marine tech world unite

 

The award is SEK 100,000 for each category, and the winners were announced on the Innovation Day dinner – an annual event presented by Blue Science Park in collaboration with ALMI, Blekinge Business Incubator (BBI), Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Karlskrona municipality, Stena Line and Region Blekinge bringing together companies, researchers, start-ups and students within Digital, eHealth and Marine technology.

 

Part of the US$3.85bn Stena AB Group, Stena Line is one of Europe's leading ferry companies with 38 vessels and 20 routes in Northern Europe.