by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Fabio Scoccimarro, FVG Councilor for Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development; Dean Bassi, Vice President, Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano
Barcolana, the world’s largest sailing regatta, will introduce a new event to its 2026 program with the launch of the AI Sea Summit on October 8, bringing together experts in artificial intelligence, maritime innovation and environmental sustainability.
The one-day conference, hosted at the MIB Trieste School of Management, is free and open to the public. Supported by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the summit aims to make artificial intelligence accessible to a broad audience through a series of short, TED-style talks.
The morning sessions will focus on AI’s growing role in everyday life, business, mobility and data security, while the afternoon will examine its applications at sea, including navigation, port logistics, maritime safety, environmental monitoring and medical assistance.
Organizers say the event reflects Trieste’s unique position as both a leading scientific center and one of the Mediterranean’s most important maritime cities.
A highlight of the summit will be the presentation of the Trieste Manifesto for Artificial Intelligence and Marine Sustainability, a document outlining principles for the ethical use of AI in protecting marine ecosystems and supporting the blue economy through collaboration between researchers, institutions and industry.
The event will also launch the Barcolana AI Sea Hackathon, an international innovation challenge open to students, developers, researchers and startups. Applications will remain open through December, with the hackathon scheduled for January 2027 and a total prize fund of €9,000.
More than a dozen speakers from companies, universities and maritime organizations—including Fincantieri, the Italian Coast Guard, MIB Trieste School of Management, and the One Ocean Foundation—are expected to participate.
The summit begins at 9:25 a.m. on October 8 and concludes at 5 p.m., marking Barcolana’s newest initiative linking technology, sustainability and the future of the sea.
