Ocean Exchange Seeks Solutions Submissions

The third annual Ocean Exchange, to be held in Savannah, Georgia, has selected the theme of Leap to Zero+ as it continues its search for entrepreneurs from around the globe with innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Solutions submitted should have the potential to generate economic growth and increase productivity while reducing the use of nature’s resources and waste production. Ocean Exchange seeks innovative, proactive and globally scalable solutions with working prototypes and applications that can cross industries, economies and cultures.

Ultimately, the Ocean Exchange aims to accelerate the adoption of active solutions by becoming the heart of an exciting new worldwide community of thought leaders providing insights to solution providers. According to Cort Atkinson, founder of Ocean Exchange, "We are building the international resource for innovation and growth. We invite all innovators with solutions that will positively impact environment, economies and health to register their solutions on the Ocean Exchange. We help innovators to connect with customers, funders, and partners to advance adoption of their solutions around the world. In the future universities, research organizations and companies will be reporting how many solutions they have registered on the Ocean Exchange to demonstrate their contribution to creating a better future."

This year’s competition boasts two monetary awards—The Gulfstream Navigator Award and The WWL Orcelle Award. Both $100,000 awards have individual criteria for selection. However, all solutions inspiring action, regardless of final standing, will be featured on The Gallery (new for 2013)—a globally accessible online portal to be housed on www.OceanExchange.org and frequented by investors and business leaders. So, even if an applicant is not chosen to present at Ocean Exchange, that solution still has a very real chance to be discovered and funded.

Solution creators seeking award eligibility can register their solutions to compete for the honor of being among the ten entries chosen to present at the Ocean Exchange in Savannah, Georgia on September 30th and October 1st, 2013.

• The Gulfstream Navigator Award 2013 will be given to the solution that best demonstrates the greatest potential to Leap to Zero+ with applicability across multiple industries generating positive impact on the environment, economics, and health while respecting cultures around the world.
• The WWL Orcelle Award 2013 will be given to the solution that makes shipping and logistics more sustainable by advancing zero-emissions marine transport and technologies that are commercially viable.

In addition to the monetary rewards, Industry Excellence Awards will be given to the top three solutions submitted by corporations and organizations, as selected by a global panel. The recipients will be invited to present at the opening reception on September 29th, 2013.

The ocean exchange welcomes solutions from around the world. In 2012, entries came from 16 countries. The winning entries were: Protei – a shape-shifting, open-source sailing drone designed to sense and clean the oceans after natural and manmade disasters; Nonox – a combustion technology for container ships, long-haul trucking, and stationary sources that lowers NOx and SOx emissions by up to 30%, carbon dioxide emission by up to 15%, and improves fuel performance by up to 30%.

To enter a solution for the 2013 Ocean Exchange, access “Register a Solution” via www.OceanExchange.org. To qualify for the 2013 awards, participants must complete the pre-screening application by 11:59PM (GMT) on May 1st. Final applications for 2013 will be due by 11:59PM (GMT) on June 1st. After this deadline, an expert review panel will narrow the field.