With the latest developments in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab places Portugal at the forefront of ocean analytics, driving innovation in the Blue Economy and contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water.

The official launch will take place this Sunday at the Portugal Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, under the theme “The Ocean as a Global Dialogue”. The lab is the result of a partnership between NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) and the Municipality of Oeiras, under the Oeiras Mar 2030 programme. Fórum Oceano, the Port of Lisbon Authority and the Nautical School Infante D. Henrique are already on board, and more national and international partners are expected to join soon.

Headquartered at NOVA IMS – the only higher education institution in Portugal entirely focused on Data Science and AI – the lab will be scientifically coordinated by the school and will develop advanced solutions for key challenges in the maritime domain, including:

• Environmental monitoring and ecosystem conservation
• Ocean digital twins for modelling and simulation
• Predictive risk analysis for coastal and maritime safety
• Smart ports and logistics optimisation
• Sustainable fisheries and marine resource management
• Detection and prevention of illegal maritime activities

The lab also aims to bring academia, government and industry closer together – particularly through the training of specialised talent – and to promote applied research that leads to new products, services and concrete outcomes in the blue economy.

As Miguel de Castro Neto, Dean of NOVA IMS, puts it:
“Signing this protocol in Osaka, during an Expo dedicated to building the society of the future, is deeply symbolic. Portugal now has its first ocean analytics lab – combining Data Science, AI and sustainability. The NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab reflects who we are: turning data into knowledge with global impact, and creating real solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.”

For Isaltino Morais, Mayor of Oeiras, this initiative is “further proof of the strategy we’ve been following to position the municipality as a centre of excellence and innovation.”

“It had to be a project with the Oeiras Valley seal,” he adds. “That’s our ambition: to be at the forefront of major scientific and technological projects, driven by innovation and sustainability.” With this initiative, Portugal strengthens its role in the global ocean innovation landscape, advancing sustainable solutions with international relevance.