Turquois X Summit: Accelerating Blue-Green Innovation
Date: 26–28 March 2025
Venue: MiHub, Av. Olof Palme, 35500 Arrecife
Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Spain
About Turquois X
Accelerating Blue-Green Innovation:
Urgent action is required to conserve the ocean’s ecosystems and to develop sustainable ocean use. How can we innovate for a sustainable blue-green economy? The Turquois X Summit will host experts, innovators, and change-makers from ocean science, marine conservation, start-ups, industry, government, and investment communities to explore how we can accelerate sustainable ocean innovation. Turquois X will showcase sustainable ocean projects and applications being developed in the Canary Islands, Macaronesia, and internationally. It will provide a forum to develop future collaboration and transformation projects for a blue-green economy in the region in a focused and interactive format.
Key topics:
- Enabling ocean research, observation and conservation
- Blue-green economy and sustainable development
- Innovating sustainable ocean tourism
- Decarbonising maritime transport, ports and marinas
- Integrating marine renewables and sustainable infrastructure
- Scaling sustainable multi-platform offshore utilities
- Advancing smart and sustainable marine aquaculture and biotechnology
- Catalyzing blue-green ventures
- Marine robotics and AI
Programme
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
19:00-21:00 | Welcome Reception
Thursday, 27 March 2025
09:00-09:30 | Coffee and Networking
09:30-10:00 | Opening Session
Introduction
Florian Lennert Founder, Turquois X and Klaus Töpfer Fellow, Research institute for Sustainability (RIFS), Germany
José Joaquín Hernández Brito CEO, PLOCAN, Canary Islands, Spain
Rainer Quitzow Research Group Leader, RIFS, Germany
Welcome
Migdalia María Machín Tavío Consejería de Universidades, Ciencia e Innovación y Cultura, Gobierno de Canarias, Spain (invited)
Oswaldo Betancort García Presidente del Cabildo de Lanzarote, Spain (invited)
10:00-11:00 | Enabling Ocean Science
José Joaquín Hernández Brito CEO, PLOCAN, Canary Islands, Spain
Arne Körtzinger GEOMAR, Germany & Scientific Director, OSCM, Mindelo, Cabo Verde
Albertino Martins Member of the Board, Instituto de Mar, Cabo Verde
Telmo Morato Principal Marine Scientist, Okeanos, University of the Azores, Portugal
Ben Boteler Senior Research Associate, Ocean Governance Group, RIFS, Germany
11:00-11:15 | Coffee
11:15-12:45 | Innovation Pitches: Sustainable Marine Mobility
Billy Thalheimer CEO, Regent Craft, USA
Belén Linares Chief Innovation Officer, MOEVE, Spain
Jaime Collar Senior Manager Ports and Maritime Transport, IDOM, Spain
Ben Sorkin CEO, Flux Marine, USA
John Rossant President, Monaco Hydrogen Alliance, Monaco
12:45 -14:00 | Sustainable Ports and Maritime Logistics
Oliver Risse Managing Partner, Onenorth Ventures, Singapore
Carlos Garcia Acón CEO, Esteyco, Spain
Adelina de la Yara Cluster Maritimo Canarias/FEDPORT
Pedro José García Gómez Director, Smart Port Projects, IDOM, Spain
14:00-15:00 | Lunch
15:00-16:00 | A Blue-Green Economy
Marc Stuart CEO, Allotrope Partners, USA
Andreas Kraemer Founder, Ecologic and Board Adviser, Oceano Azul Foundation, Germany/Portugal
Paul Holthus Founder and CEO, World Ocean Council, USA
Torsten Thiele Founder, Global Ocean Trust, Germany
16:00-16:15 | Coffee
16:15-17:15 | Innovation Pitches: Advancing Ocean Innovation for the Canary Islands
Eduardo Pereira González CEO, Fuerteventura Technology Park, Spain
Rafael Robaina Romero Professor, University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Spain
Javier Roo Filgueira Scientific Investigator, Agencia Canaria de Innovación, Spain
20:00-22:00 | Conference Dinner
Friday, 28 March 2025
09:00-09:30 | Coffee and Networking
09:30-10:00 | Innovation Pitches: Transformative Ocean Solutions
Már Fernández-Méndez Founder and CEO, Macrocarbon, Spain
Janek Andre Founder and CEO, WeWhale, Spain
10:00-11:00 | Sustainable Ocean Innovation and Venture Building
Janade du Plessis CEO, Launch Africa, South Africa
Adam de Sola Pool Member of the Corporation, Woods Hole Oceanic Institution, USA
Javier Garabal General Partner, Archipelago Next, Spain
Eberhard Sauter Head of Transfer, Alfred-Wegener Institute, Germany
11:00-12:00 | Innovation Pitches: Ocean & Renewable Energy
Michael Henriksen CEO, Wavepiston, Denmark/SpainSebastian Feimblatt Co-Founder and CEO, Ocean Oasis, Norway/Spain
Elena Sánchez Rivero Manager, Floating Power Plant, Denmark/Spain
12:00-12:30 | Coffee
12:30-13:30 | Innovation Pitches: Ocean Conservation
Evandro Lopes Professor, Technical University of the Atlantic, Cabo Verde
Peter Fippinger Managing Director, Blue Crescent Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tommy Melon Co-Founder, Biosfera, Cabo Verde
13:30-14:30 | Autonomous Solutions for Ocean Use
A Erdem Kazakali CEO, Speeder Systems, Netherlands
José Luis García President, Cluster Aeronáutico y Aeroespacial de Canarias, Spain
Frank Wernecke CEO, Dronemaster, Germany
14:30-16:00 | Lunch
Speakers
- Migdalia María Machín Tavío Consejería de Universidades, Ciencia e Innovación y Cultura, Gobierno de Canarias, Spain (invited)
- Oswaldo Betancort García Presidente del Cabildo de Lanzarote, Spain (invited)
- Jose Joaquin Hernandez Brito CEO, PLOCAN, Canary Islands, Spain
- Juan Luis Quincoces Soler CEO, miHub, Lanzarote, Spain
- Carlos García Acón Managing Director, Esteyco, Spain
- Janek Andre CEO, WeWhale, Spain
- Ben Boteler Senior Research Associate, Ocean Governance Group, RIFS, Germany
- Elba Bueno Cabrera Gerente/Secretara General Cluster Maritimo Canarias/FEDPORT
- Javier Roo Filgueira Scientific Investigator, Agencia Canaria de Innovación, Spain
- Peter Fippinger Managing Director, Blue Crescent Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Javier Garabal Senior Fund Manager, Archipelago Next, Spain
- Jose Luis Garcia President, Cluster Aeronáutico y Aeroespacial de Canarias, Spain
- Eduardo Pereira Gonzálex CEO, Fuerteventura Technological Park, Spain
- Michael Henriksen CEO, Wavepiston, Denmark
- Paul Holthus President & CEO, World Ocean Council, USA
- A. Erdem Kazakali CEO & Co-Founder, Speeder Systems, Netherlands
- Prof. Dr. Arne Körtzinger GEOMAR Germany/Scientific Director, OSCM, Mindelo, Cabo Verde
- Andreas Kraemer Advisor to the Board, Oceana Azul Foundation, Portugal/Germany
- Evandro Lopes Professor, Technical University of the Atlantic, Cabo Verde
- Albertino Martins Member of the Board, Instituto de Mar, Cape Verde
- Pedro M. Mayorga Rubio CEO, Enerocean, Spain (invited)
- Tommy Melo Co-founder, Biosfera, Cabo Verde
- Mar Fernández Méndez CEO, Macrocarbon, Spain
- Telmo Morato Principal Marine Scientist, Okeanos, University of the Azores, Portugal
- Barbara Neumann Research Group Leader, Ocean Governance, RIFS, Germany
- Janade du Plessis Managing Partner, Launch Africa, South Africa
- Adam de Sola Pool Member of the Corporation, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA
- Rainer Quitzow Research Group Leader, Geopolitics of Energy, RIFS, Germany
- Oliver Risse Managing Partner, Onenorth Ventures, Singapore
- Susana Rodriguez Head of Projects, Ocean Oasis, Spain
- Rafael Robaina Romero Professor, University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Spain
- Elena Sánchez Rivero Manager, Floating Power Plant, Spain
- Ben Sorkin CEO, Flux Marine, USA
- Eberhard Sauter Head of Transfer, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
- Marc Stuart CEO, Allotrope Partners, USA
- Billy Thalheimer CEO, Regent Craft, USA
- Torsten Thiele Founder, Global Ocean Trust, Germany
- Frank Wernecke CEO, Dronemasters, Germany
More information about the speakers find here.
Registration
If you are interested in participating, please register here: https://eveeno.com/turquoisxsummit
Background
Turquois X is an initiative to establish an innovation accelerator to advance sustainable ocean applications and technologies based in Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Working with ocean science, marine conservation, industry and start-ups the focus is on connecting ocean research to applied marine innovation and to host a living lab for a sustainable blue-green economy. Turquois X collaborates with a range of local and international partners and with PLOCAN, the Canary Island Oceanic Platform and the Marina Innova Hub in Lanzarote to grow an innovation ecosystem for sustainable ocean use and smart green transformation. The initiative is kindly supported by the Research Institute For Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS).
Lanzarote
The island of Lanzarote has a unique tradition of pursuing social and environmental sustainability, embodied by visionary artist and early ecologist, César Manrique. As a UNESCO biosphere reserve, it is actively developing innovation strategies for sustainable development and ocean use.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands, an autonomous region of Spain, are a hub for tourism, shipping and the marine economy, as well as for ocean research and conservation. PLOCAN on Gran Canaria is an important platform for marine research and maritime innovation in the Atlantic. The islands host exceptional cluster of research and development institutions in the area of marine sciences, renewable energy, desalination, astrophysics and space observation. The Canary Islands are a top destination for global digital nomads and attract a range of start-ups.
Macaronesia
Macaronesia, comprising the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde, is a unique ocean region at the strategic interface of Europe, Africa and the Atlantic. The region, including also the coastal areas of Morrocco, Mauretania and Senegal, features a major tropical ocean upwelling, influencing global ocean circulation and climate, is rich in biodiversity and an important fishery. The GEOMAR Ocean Science Center on Mindelo is an important hub for ocean research for the region. Macaronesia has a unique opportunity to innovate sustainable solutions to address challenges of climate change, tourism, migration, energy transition, security and resilience.