Report on SeaCras: Leveraging Technology for Marine Sustainability

Introduction: A Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The Croatian technology start-up, SeaCras, has developed an innovative platform to address the critical environmental threats of marine pollution and climate change. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with satellite imagery, the company provides advanced monitoring solutions that directly support the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This report details the company’s origins, technological contributions, strategic partnerships, and future growth trajectory in the context of global sustainability efforts.

Company Origins and Mission

From Scientific Research to Entrepreneurial Action

SeaCras was established in 2020 by Dr. Mario Špadina, a physicist with an extensive background in academic research. Dr. Špadina transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship with the objective of applying scientific principles to solve pressing real-world environmental problems. The company was founded to enhance the monitoring of marine ecosystems, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth and environmental preservation, in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Technological Framework and SDG Impact

Advanced Monitoring for Marine Ecosystems

SeaCras employs a proprietary AI-powered platform that analyzes high-resolution satellite data from both commercial and open-source providers, such as the European Union’s Copernicus programme. This technology surpasses the limitations of traditional monitoring methods by providing comprehensive and timely insights into marine activities and health.

Contributions to SDG 14: Life Below Water

The company’s core operations are fundamentally aligned with the objectives of SDG 14. Its technology provides critical data for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. Key contributions include:

• Target 14.1: Reduce Marine Pollution: The platform effectively detects pollution events, such as the oil spill identified near the port of Hvar in April 2025, enabling rapid response from public authorities to mitigate environmental damage.
• Target 14.2: Protect and Restore Ecosystems: By monitoring human impact on protected marine areas, SeaCras provides essential data for the management and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Target 14.4: Combat Illegal Fishing: The system aids in the detection of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, supporting sustainable fisheries management.

Advancing SDG 9 and SDG 13

SeaCras’s work also significantly advances other key SDGs:

1. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): The company represents a significant technological innovation in the blue economy, upgrading the infrastructure for environmental monitoring and fostering sustainable industrial practices in sectors such as shipping, tourism, and aquaculture.
2. SDG 13 (Climate Action): By monitoring vessel emissions and other maritime activities, the platform provides data that can be used to enforce environmental regulations and strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards.

Strategic Partnerships and Growth

The Role of EU BlueInvest in Fostering Innovation

The company’s development has been substantially supported by the EU’s BlueInvest initiative, a partnership that exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through BlueInvest, SeaCras received expert coaching and fundraising assistance, which were instrumental in refining its business strategy. According to CEO Mario Špadina, the coaching provided critical perspectives on investment, client engagement, and marketing, facilitating the transition from an academic project to a commercially viable enterprise. Supported by BlueInvest, SeaCras initiated a €3 million fundraising round to facilitate global expansion.

Financial Development and Future Outlook

From an initial funding of €50,000, SeaCras has become the third-largest provider of ocean data in its region. The company is currently securing further investment through a Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development finance instrument, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB). This funding will be allocated to enhance research and development and expand its team of 15 professionals, positioning SeaCras for entry into new international markets and amplifying its global impact on marine sustainability.

Leadership and Industry Recognition

Dr. Špadina’s leadership has been recognized by the European Forum Alpbach as one of the ‘Emerging Leaders under 40’ and by the World Economic Forum in 2024 as one of its ‘Top Executives and Innovators’. His contributions extend to strategic planning for the maritime transport and coastal tourism sectors at national and EU levels, further embedding the principles of sustainable development in public and private sector policy.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most central SDG. The article’s main focus is on the start-up SeaCras, which uses technology to monitor and protect marine environments from threats like pollution, illegal fishing, and damage to protected areas. Its entire mission is aligned with conserving and sustainably using the oceans and marine resources.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article highlights how SeaCras is a story of innovation and entrepreneurship. It details the journey of a physicist applying scientific research, satellite data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve real-world problems. The support from the EU’s BlueInvest initiative for this technology-driven start-up directly relates to fostering innovation and upgrading industrial capabilities for sustainability.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article presents SeaCras as an entrepreneurial success story that contributes to the “blue economy.” It mentions the creation of a team of 15 people and plans for growth, which supports job creation. The focus on turning a scientific idea into a successful business that attracts investment promotes sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The success of SeaCras is explicitly linked to various partnerships. This includes support from the EU’s BlueInvest initiative (coaching and fundraising), collaboration with public authorities who use their data, and securing funding through partnerships with the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank (EIB). This demonstrates a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.

  The article directly addresses this target by describing how SeaCras’s platform detects pollution. The specific example of detecting an “oil spill near Hvar port” shows a direct application of technology to combat marine pollution.

• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.

  SeaCras’s work in monitoring “damage to protected marine areas” aligns with this target by providing the necessary data for authorities to manage and protect these vital ecosystems.

• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

  The article explicitly states that traditional monitoring methods often overlook “illegal fishing,” and SeaCras’s technology is designed to detect such activities, contributing directly to this target.

• Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology.

  The founder’s background as a physicist with numerous scientific papers who transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship embodies this target. SeaCras itself is a vehicle for transferring advanced marine technology (AI, satellite analysis) from research into practical, impactful application.

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors.

  The entire premise of SeaCras is based on applying scientific research and advanced technology to serve industries like shipping, tourism, and aquaculture. The company’s fundraising efforts to “boost their research” further underscore its commitment to this target.

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

  The article showcases a successful public-private partnership model. SeaCras (a private company) is supported by public and quasi-public entities (EU BlueInvest, Croatian Bank, EIB) and provides data that enables “public authorities” to act on environmental risks.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 14.1: Number of pollution incidents detected and reported.

  The article’s specific mention of SeaCras detecting “an oil spill near Hvar port” implies that a key performance metric for their technology is the successful identification of such events. This can be used as an indicator of progress in monitoring and reducing marine pollution.

• Implied Indicator for Target 14.4: Number of illegal fishing activities detected.

  The article states that the platform helps detect “illegal fishing.” This suggests that a quantifiable measure of success would be the number of such incidents identified, which serves as an indicator for combating IUU fishing.

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: Amount of investment in research and innovation.

  The article mentions that SeaCras launched a “€3 million fundraising round” and is securing new funding to “boost their research.” This financial figure can serve as a direct indicator of investment being channeled into technological research and innovation for the blue economy.

• Implied Indicator for SDG 8 (Job Creation): Number of jobs created in the green/blue economy sector.

  The mention of SeaCras growing its “team of 15” provides a specific, though small-scale, indicator of job creation resulting from innovation in the sustainable marine sector.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu