EIT Water Wavemaker Baltics 2026
EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 | Klaipeda
EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 Apply
EIT Water WAVEMAKER pilot — regional award event
EIT Water logo Co-funded by the European Union logo Grundfos Foundation logo Klaipeda logo Klaipeda Science and Technology Park logo DEEP Ecosystems logo
Regional Business Creation Award

EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026

Industrial Living Labs for Water Circularity, Climate Resilience & Decarbonization. Join startups, spinouts, industrial partners, mentors and investors in Klaipeda to accelerate real-world water innovation.

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About the event

A regional award event for water innovation with real industrial pathways.

EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 connects promising startups, SMEs and research spinouts with industrial end-users, infrastructure operators, mentors, investors and public authorities. The event takes place as part of Portathon 2026 in Klaipeda port, running from 25–27 September 2026.

From innovation to market uptake

Selected ventures receive structured pitch feedback, mentoring and visibility to help move solutions closer to validation, deployment and growth.

Part of Portathon 2026

For the eighth year in a row, Klaipeda will become a place to embrace challenges, disrupt the status quo and shape the future of global maritime technologies.

Maritime innovators wanted

Innovators, tech and maritime start-up creators, brave and creative minds — we can’t wait to see you at Klaipeda Science and Technology Park.

Keynote speaker

Beyond pilot: turning corporate demand into traction.

A keynote on moving from promising pilots to measurable commercial progress with corporate demand owners — with an investor lens on NatureTech and ocean innovation.

Amelie Derochers headshot
Featured keynote

Amelie Derochers

Co-Founder & CEO, Afloat

Beyond Pilot: Building Real Traction With Corporate Demand Owners

Afloat is a NatureTech investment and media platform mobilizing capital into nature and ocean technologies. The platform helps define NatureTech as a distinct frontier investment category — spanning AI, biotech, fintech and deeptech applied to the living world — and supports investors, fund managers and ventures with investor readiness, due diligence, go-to-market strategy and fund formation.

NatureTech and ocean technology investment thesis
Investor readiness and commercial due diligence
Market intelligence and investment taxonomy
Capital mobilization beyond traditional impact investing
Challenge areas

What challenges are we tackling?

We are looking for solutions that help industries, cities and communities use water more efficiently, improve resilience and protect aquatic ecosystems.

Water efficiency, recycling & circularity

Industrial water reuse, smart monitoring, resource recovery, water-saving technologies and circular process water systems.

Climate resilience & adaptation

Solutions for flood, drought, infrastructure stress, extreme events, decision support and resilient water systems.

Marine & freshwater water quality

Pollution monitoring, water-quality analytics, nutrient reduction, microplastics detection and ecosystem restoration.

Industrial decarbonization

Water-linked decarbonization, industrial symbiosis, waste heat recovery, digital twins and renewable energy integration.

Why apply?

Pitch, learn, connect and unlock pilot pathways.

Selected teams will gain exposure to mentors, jury members, industrial stakeholders and innovation ecosystem leaders.

Funding & support

Five selected regional finalists will receive 200 € each to support their visit to Klaipeda, alongside access to upcoming project calls, business creation programmes and expert mentoring.

Network integration

Connect with 50+ core organizations, researchers and industry leaders across 24 countries.

Collaborative activities

Join community initiatives, entrepreneurial education and the EIT Water innovation roadmap.

Compete for recognition

Three regional winners will receive free EIT Water membership for 2027, with five selected regional finalists receiving 200 € each to support their visit to Klaipeda.

Jury & mentors

Pitch to a top-notch jury with international investors.

Finalists will receive practical feedback from experienced jury members, international investors, water innovation experts and blue-economy ecosystem leaders.

International investor jury

Present your solution to a high-calibre jury with international investor perspective and market-readiness feedback.

200 € finalist support

Five selected regional finalists will each receive 200 € to help them visit Klaipeda and participate in the regional final.

Pilot and growth feedback

Get input on customer validation, industrial use cases, partnerships, pilots and next steps toward funding readiness.

Mentors & contacts

Portathon mentors who will be there as contacts in Klaipeda.

These mentors from Portathon 2026 will be available as contacts during the Klaipeda programme.

Giovanni Di Noto

Product Manager, Lecturer, Tech Advisor

Tatjana Paulauskiene

CEO & Founder

Audrius Senulis

Associate Professor, Head of Engineering Department, Researcher at Marine Research Institute

Andrius Sutnikas

Coordinator

Giedrius Janušauskas

Development Manager

Gintvilė Simkonienė

Vice-Dean

Portathon 2026 coordinator contact: Erika Zavackiene, project manager, [email protected].

Awards

Compete for regional WAVEMAKER recognition and EIT Water membership.

The event will select three regional winners. All three winners receive free EIT Water membership for 2027. In addition, five selected regional finalists will receive 200 € each to support their visit to Klaipeda.

1st Place Regional Winner

The project ranked in first place will receive free EIT Water membership for 2027 and will be invited to represent the Baltics 2026, present its solution and receive recognition during the EIT Water Launch Event scheduled for 15 October 2026.

  • Free EIT Water membership for 2027
  • Invitation to represent the Baltics 2026 at the EIT Water Launch Event on 15 October 2026
  • Opportunity to present the solution and receive European recognition
  • At the European event, the global winner will receive €5,000 and one additional year of EIT Water membership for 2028
  • Travel coverage for the Launch Event: to be confirmed

2nd Place Regional Winner

Free EIT Water membership for 2027, regional recognition and EIT Water ecosystem visibility.

3rd Place Regional Winner

Free EIT Water membership for 2027, regional recognition and EIT Water ecosystem visibility.

Programme

Afternoon event agenda

Draft programme for 26 September 2026 as part of Portathon 2026. Final timings may be adjusted once mentors, jury and participating startups are confirmed.

13:00 – 14:00
Keynote: Beyond Pilot: Building Real Traction With Corporate Demand Owners Amelie Derochers, Co-Founder & CEO of Afloat, a NatureTech investment and media platform mobilizing capital into nature and ocean technologies. Target: Portathon participants.
14:00 – 15:30
Pitch training with mentors & business representatives Each participant gets feedback from each mentor.
15:30 – 16:30
Final pitch preparation Pitch polishing based on mentor and business feedback.
16:30 – 17:00
Pitches
17:30 – 18:00
Jury deliberation Participants can explore Portathon while the jury deliberates.
18:00 – 18:30
Award ceremony and next steps
18:30 – 20:30
Networking dinner
Sign up

Sign up to attend the event.

Use the form to register your interest in attending EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 in Klaipeda. Startup teams that want to pitch should also complete the separate application form.

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Startup applications

Apply to pitch at WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026.

Applications are open for startups, SMEs and research spinouts developing solutions for water circularity, climate resilience, water quality, industrial sustainability and decarbonization.

Open Application Form
Venue

Hosted at Klaipeda Science and Technology Park.

WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 takes place at Klaipeda Science and Technology Park as part of Portathon 2026 in Klaipeda port.

Klaipeda Science and Technology Park

Address:
Vilhelmo Berbomo St. 10
Klaipeda, Lithuania

  • Part of Portathon 2026
  • Portathon dates: 25–27 September 2026
  • Pitching, mentoring and award ceremony on 26 September 2026
  • Maritime, water and industrial innovation community
Klaipeda Science and Technology Park logo
Klaipeda Science and Technology Park, Lithuania Portathon setting for maritime technologies, water circularity, resilience and decarbonization.
Organizers & partners

Delivered by innovation ecosystem builders.

The regional WAVEMAKER event is organized by DEEP Ecosystems with Klaipeda Science and Technology Park as partner and host, connecting startups with Portathon, an international network of innovation hubs, mentors, industrial stakeholders and ecosystem partners.

DEEP Ecosystems

International ecosystem-building organization supporting startups, SMEs, innovation hubs, investors and public-sector partners.

Klaipeda Science and Technology Park

Partner and host venue for WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026, connecting the event to Portathon and Klaipeda’s maritime innovation ecosystem.

EIT Water ecosystem

The event contributes to the wider EIT Water WAVEMAKER Business Creation Award programme and its regional innovation pathway.

Portathon 2026

WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026 is part of Portathon 2026, taking place in Klaipeda port from 25–27 September 2026.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics 2026?

It is a regional business creation award event for startups, SMEs and spinouts working on water innovation, circularity, climate resilience, water quality and industrial sustainability.

When and where will the event take place?

The event will take place on 26 September 2026 at Klaipeda Science and Technology Park, Vilhelmo Berbomo St. 10, Klaipeda, Lithuania. It is part of Portathon 2026, which runs from 25–27 September 2026 in Klaipeda port.

Who should apply to pitch?

Startups, SMEs and research spinouts with solutions relevant to water efficiency, circularity, climate resilience, freshwater or marine water quality, industrial sustainability or decarbonization.

How do I apply?

Use the application form linked on this page. Applications are submitted through the dedicated Google Form.

How do I sign up to attend?

Use the embedded sign-up form in the “Sign up” section. Startup teams that want to pitch should also complete the application form.

What are the prizes?

Five selected regional finalists receive 200 € each to support their visit to Klaipeda. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place regional winners receive free EIT Water membership for 2027. The 1st place project will also be invited to represent the Baltics 2026 at the EIT Water Launch Event on 15 October 2026. At that European event, the global winner will receive €5,000 and one additional year of EIT Water membership for 2028.

Will travel be covered for the winner?

Five selected regional finalists will receive 200 € each to support their visit to Klaipeda. Travel coverage for the 1st place winner’s participation in the EIT Water Launch Event is to be confirmed.

What language will the event use?

The recommended working language is English to support international participation from the Baltic region, Germany and the wider European ecosystem.

Ready to become a WAVEMAKER?

Join us in Klaipeda on 26 September 2026 and help shape the future of water innovation in Europe.

© 2026 EIT Water WAVEMAKER Baltics. Organized by DEEP Ecosystems with Klaipeda Science and Technology Park.
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