Blue Spark Demo Day Highlights Marine Innovation at the University of Haifa

On February 9th, 2026, the University of Haifa held the Demo Day of Blue Spark, its marine‑innovation accelerator dedicated to developing early‑stage ventures in the Blue Economy. The program supports discharged soldiers and active reservists in building practical, impact‑driven solutions to challenges in marine science, environmental protection, and maritime industries.

Blue Spark operates as part of the national “From Reserve Duty to Startup” initiative led by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Ministry of Defense.

Co‑led by Charney School and the Haifa Innovation Labs (HIL), the four‑month program provided participants with intensive mentoring, hands‑on workshops, and guidance in business development, enabling them to turn ideas into viable marine‑tech ventures.
During the Demo Day, ten teams presented their projects to an audience of around 60 participants, including representatives from academia, industry, and the marine innovation ecosystem.

Winning Ventures: 
SeaPigments – A natural white pigment derived from marine bacteria, offering a healthy alternative to synthetic pigments in food and cosmetics.
The Rush – A platform connecting surfers with coastal communities to promote sustainable surf tourism.
Portify – A logistics optimization solution for container repositioning, reducing operational costs and carbon emissions in global shipping.

The event also celebrated the growing collaboration between marine researchers, industry partners, and emerging entrepreneurs. Blue Spark program demonstrated the strong potential of Israel’s Blue Economy, highlighting the value of combining scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and real‑world experience.

Following the program’s success, registration for Blue Spark II is now open.
The next cohort will focus on Precision Aquaculture, integrating advanced technologies with sustainable marine food production.
More details and registration.

Special thanks were extended to the program’s partners for their support throughout the cohort:
AquaculTech, Arieli Innovate, the Israeli National Center of Blue Economy, the Wydra Center for Ports & Shipping Research, PwC Israel, Migdalor – Naval Academy Alumni Association, Atalef – Shayetet 13 Alumni, and Coral Maritime Services.

The growing collaboration between academia, industry, and the marine community forms a strong foundation for developing the next generation of marine innovators. Blue Spark will continue to serve as a platform that transforms scientific knowledge and creative ideas into real‑world solutions shaping the future of Israel’s marine environment.