Five years of innovation for sustainable marinas

The 5^th Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous will be held 21-22 September 2025 at the Yacht Club de Monaco. Organised by M3 Monaco, the event gathers over 250 professionals in the maritime sector including investors, innovators, architects and marina managers. The shared goal is to accelerate the transition to sustainable, efficient marina infrastructures. Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Yacht Club de Monaco, this initiative is part of the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting approach, along with major industry partners such as Bombardier, MB92 Group and Italian Yacht Master.

A crossroads of sustainable marina-focused innovation

For two days, startups, scaleups, architectural firms and marina managers present their solutions to reinvent the sector. “In five years, this event has become a global focal point for sustainable innovation for marinas. Together we are co-creating the yachting of tomorrow: responsible, collaborative and driven by targeted expertise,” says José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3 Monaco.

Five years of tangible progress

Since 2021, more than 110 startups, 50 marinas and 30 architectural firms have contributed to the emergence of concrete projects, like Terroïko and H2X Ecosystems, both winners of the first edition. Terroïko has since doubled its workforce while H2X Ecosystems is now developing international solutions. In 2022, Solar Cloth presented a flexible solar fabric, tested by YCM, offering a modular photovoltaic system capable of ploughing back green energy into the Club’s network. The following year, startup Pick a Pier stood out for its smart berthing platform that reduces cancellations by 57% while increasing the booking rate by 20%. Tied in 2023, Nereid Water and EH2P Marine won with their solar-powered desalination system that does not release concentrated brine, currently deployed in Monaco. “All the startups cover a wide range of topics, from energy efficiency and water treatment to biodiversity. Therefore, it is really interesting for marinas and shipyards to participate in Smart Marina to discover new innovations that will soon be on the market and could help improve sustainability,” notes Marc Hervas, Sustainability Manager, MB92 Group.

The participation of 50 marinas reflects a growing commitment to sustainability, boosting their image among users, the public and industry partners. By highlighting concrete actions, such as eco-responsible management, technological innovation and energy efficiency, each destination is stating its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This dynamic opens up new opportunities for collaborations with startups, investors and architects. The winners benefit from international recognition as illustrated by previous winners, Flisvos Marina, Karpaz Gate Marina, Limassol Marina, Alciudamar, Setur Marina and Kos Marina.

SMART Dock: sustainable transformation of marina infrastructures

New for Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous 2025, the SMART Dock initiative brings together an ecosystem of innovators, startups, manufacturers, port operators, regulators and investors to co-design a smart, sustainable, user-centric marina dock. In effect it is a collaborative laboratory developing an operational prototype integrating connected technologies, modularity, respect for biodiversity and the energy transition. More than just a conceptual project the SMART Dock embodies a tangible force driving a sustainable transformation of marina facilities.

Smart Marina Architecture Competition: imagining tomorrow’s marina

A highlight of the 2025 edition is the Smart Marina Architecture Competition. Since its launch it has mobilised 104 students and 30 architecture firms from 24 countries, all of whom were invited to reinvent marinas by focusing on innovation and sustainability. “The competition embodies our vision to combine creative architecture with technological innovation and a commitment to the environment. We invite talents from all over the world to imagine the marinas of the future,” explains Yacht Club de Monaco General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.

This year the site chosen is Certosa Island in Venice and ‘The Frame of Venice’ project. Candidates are invited to design three resilient infrastructures for the Venezia Certosa Marina to meet climate and environmental challenges. Projects will be judged on their feasibility, environmental impact and how they fit with Sustainable Development Goals. Aesthetics, innovation and reduced consumption must be combined with sustainable materials, energy efficient solutions and modular architecture adapted to seasonal variations. The projects of the finalists will be presented during the event, with an awards ceremony for the winners in the two categories, Student and Professional.

International Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards

The event concludes with the International Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards on 22 September at 4.00pm, with prizes awarded to the best initiatives in the following categories: Startup, Scaleup, Marina, Professional Architect, and Student Architect.

To attend the event: https://form.jotform.com/243021729303346

Press Contact: Yacht Club de Monaco – Tel: +377 93 10 64 09 – Email: presse@ycm.org
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