The event took place last week over two days, the first aimed at preparing the teams' challenges and the second for presenting the resolution of challenges to the jury.
The participants mostly came from institutes in the province and the challenges have revolved around topics such as blue technology, aquaculture and environmental awareness.
The Ecomar project has been the winner of the III Hackathon held by the high-tech incubator of the Free Trade Zone of Cádiz, Incubazul, which culminated on Thursday with the presentation of the awards among all the initiatives presented by the five participating teams and that have revolved around around topics such as blue technology, aquaculture and environmental awareness.
The winning project addresses three main problems. First, the overpopulation of the invasive macrophyte species rugulosterix ocamurae, which they control by collecting and transforming this raw material. Secondly, they address the problem of greenhouse gas emissions by producing biofuel, a more sustainable alternative. Finally, they seek to reduce the excessive use of fossil fuels by offering the development of an organic fuel as a solution. In this way, Ecomar contributes both to environmental protection and to the creation of cleaner energy sources.
The second prize in this third Hackathon has gone to DronIA, a project that uses drones equipped with artificial intelligence, which detect stains or debris in seas and oceans. They offer their services to companies committed to cleaning waste at sea, facilitating the detection and efficient collection of aquatic contaminants. This technology allows for faster and more precise cleaning, contributing to the preservation of the marine environment.
The jury, made up of Jose Manuel Fedriani (Zona Franca Cádiz), Pilo Martín (Incubazul mentor), José Ignacio Morales Conde (Telefónica), Maria del Mar Agraso Martínez (CTAQUA Aquaculture Technology Center) and Cristina Suárez Leonsegui (Employment Area and Social Inclusion of the Santa María la Real Foundation), has granted a special mention to Influencia Azul, an innovative company that promotes knowledge, conservation and enjoyment of the San Fernando estuaries, offering useful information through an app about its resources natural, promoting their protection, while providing an enriching experience for visitors who wish to know and appreciate this ecosystem.
The members of the participating teams came mostly from the IES Rafael Alberti and CIFP Marítimo Zaporito centers in Cádiz, educational centers very committed to the environment, sustainability and the Blue Economy. In the event, in which 79 people have registered, including those attending the talks and accompanying teachers, Incubazul mentors such as María Leflet Estrada, María Gálvez, Pilo Martín, Faustino Valdés, Pierre Huby and Ramón Barrera have also participated, who have accompanied the participants throughout the entire process.
During the two days of the event, a first aimed at preparing the teams' challenges and a second for the presentation of the resolution of challenges before the jury, some of the startups that have formed or are part of the Incubazul acceleration program, such as Tu Destino Sostenible, Esbeltia, Beeswell Agualitycs, Southwave, Laboratorios Abell Pharma, Macaon Films; Feel the Bay, Come Playing or Reuse Play.
