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• 2 min de lectura
AIDA Cruises has selected 3 winning projects from 150+ proposals submitted to its 2026 Innovation Hub, with the successful concepts focusing on decarbonization, sustainability, and artificial intelligence and smart solutions.
The winners were announced at the Innovation Hub's final event in Rostock on September 16th, where nine finalists presented their projects to a 5-member expert jury.
In the decarbonization category, Weimar-based revincus GmbH was selected for a technology designed to recover thermal energy from wastewater. The recovered heat could be reused aboard cruise ships, potentially reducing the energy required for hotel operations. The concept also incorporates an automated cleaning system intended to maintain the efficiency of heat-transfer surfaces during operation.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) won the sustainability category with its WoodShip project, which examines the use of wood-based materials in shipbuilding as an alternative to conventional materials.
The artificial intelligence and smart-solutions category was won by Contagt GmbH of Mannheim for an indoor-navigation system. The technology is designed to help passengers navigate large cruise ships more easily while potentially reducing the number of routine wayfinding enquiries handled by crew members.
AIDA Cruises said the three winning teams would have the opportunity to develop their concepts further in cooperation with the cruise line. Depending on the individual project, this could involve feasibility studies or pilot projects aboard AIDA ships.
Although the 3 concepts remain at an early development stage, they address several operational challenges facing the modern cruise industry, including reducing onboard energy consumption, exploring more sustainable shipbuilding materials and improving passenger navigation on large vessels.
