A Roundtable organized by the Technical University of Crete for the Accelerator Program
Post-Event Press Release
Crete — 23 Oct 2025
In the framework of the “Accelerator Program” of the HEI EIT AquaSphere project, the Technical University of Crete, via the Indigo Lab – https://indigo.tuc.gr/ – delivered a digital roundtable aimed at elaborating on the challenges of the blue economy and maritime innovation.
The online roundtable took place on 23 October 2025 (13:00–15:30 CET) and was designed for participants of the “Accelerator Program”: start-ups and scaleups driving innovation in the blue economy and maritime sectors.
In his presentation, Dr. Nikolaos Sifakis shared lessons from the Indigo Lab’s blue economy initiatives, highlighting both the challenges and the practical steps toward sustainable blue port management and environmental protection. Specifically, he highlighted the current market dynamics, trends, and opportunities across key Blue Economy sectors – including maritime transport decarbonization, port digitalization, coastal resilience, and water technology innovation – emerging funding mechanisms, regulatory drivers, and innovation pathways aligned with the EU Blue Economy Strategy and the Green Deal objectives. He concluded with an engaging discussion, addressing participants’ questions on the topic.
The AquaSphere activities continue with free digital training opportunities for students, as well as academic and non-academic staff. The project also supports entrepreneurial initiatives such as the IDEAS new venture support program.
More information is available at: https://aquasphereproject.eu/
A few words about the roundtable’s speaker:
Dr. Nikolaos Sifakis is a Chemical and Environmental Engineer specializing in the energy transition of ports and the Blue Economy. His research and professional work focus on the integration of hybrid renewable energy systems, cold-ironing, and AI-based energy management to transform conventional ports into nearly zero-energy and low-emission infrastructures. Through his PhD and postdoctoral projects at the Technical University of Crete, he has contributed to the design of digital twins and smart control frameworks that optimize port operations, improve environmental performance, and enhance energy resilience. His active involvement in several EU-funded initiatives, including AIMPRESS, PLOOTO, and TREEADS, demonstrates his commitment to advancing the Blue Economy through innovative, data-driven, and sustainable port ecosystems aligned with the European Green Deal and Fit-for-55 objectives. He is an active member of the Indigo Lab Team, of the Technical University of Crete.
About the EIT HEI Initiative: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) HEI Initiative supports higher education institutions with resources and tools to enhance their innovation and entrepreneurial capacity, in alignment with Europe’s strategic priorities for education, industry, and sustainability.
About AquaSphere
Supported by the EIT HEI Initiative, the AquaSphere Project aims to deliver scalable solutions that strengthen education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the blue economy, contributing directly to EU sustainability goals.
Contact: info@aquasphereproject.eu
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