Eyes on the Ocean: Tracking Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution
Eyes on the Ocean: Tracking Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution https://pharosproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/G_Eyes-on-the-Ocean-Tracking-Marine-Litter-and-Plastic-Pollution-1024x576.png 1024 576 PHAROS Project https://pharosproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/G_Eyes-on-the-Ocean-Tracking-Marine-Litter-and-Plastic-Pollution-1024x576.png📅 26 November | ⏰ 13:00 CET | ⏱️ 50 minutes
The PHAROS project is hosting its second Meet the Oceanpreneur Webinar on November 26 at 13:00 CET, focusing on how cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurship can combat marine litter and plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. This 50-minute virtual session brings together experts to explore detection, prevention, and scalable innovations, aligning with PHAROS’s mission to restore marine ecosystems through nature-based solutions and sustainable blue economies.
Watch the Stream below on 26th November at 13:00 CET.
PHAROS: Pioneering Ocean Restoration
Launched in September 2024 under Horizon Europe, PHAROS coordinates efforts across the Atlantic and Arctic basins to deploy innovative nature-based solutions for biodiversity restoration, pollution elimination, and a carbon-neutral blue economy. Led by the Canary Islands Oceanic Platform (PLOCAN), the project involves 23 partners from 10 countries, including demonstrations of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, artificial reefs, and invasive species monitoring using eDNA technology. A key pillar is public mobilization through programs like Citizen Litter Entrepreneurs, which empowers communities to turn marine waste into economic opportunities, directly supporting the EU’s Restore Our Ocean and Waters Mission by 2030. The Meet the Oceanpreneur series extends this by highlighting entrepreneurial pathways to scale ocean innovations, fostering collaborations beyond the project’s core basins.
Speaker Lineup
Eleni Petra
Head of the Innovation Unit for Women – “ATHENA” Research Center
Eleni Petra holds a Diploma in Computer Engineering and Informatics, from the Technical University of Patras, Greece, and a Master of Science in Computation, the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (U.M.I.S.T.) Her technical specialty is in Information Systems, User Interfaces, Human Factors in MMI, Data Base Management Systems, e-infrastructures, data infrastructures.
Over the past 30 years she has worked as a Scientific consultant and Project Manager for a number of Research Centers, companies, government agencies, and the European Economic Union (IST, Esprit programme, FP6, FP7, Horizon programmes). She has served as a Project Manager and Technical Coordinator for the technical and management administration (included 6.800 projects of informatics in the framework of the Sectoral Operational Programme “Information Society” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) as Deloitte senior manager, of over 65 projects of PIRAEUS BANK and ETBA, as a Project Manager and Technical Coordinator for the MIS in the Greek Ministries of Public Works (Access points and Road Accesses) and Industry (EPV). While working at FORTH (Foundation of Research and Technology) in Crete she was Project or Team leader in ESPRIT Projects (Intelligent Workstation – IWS, ITHACA, etc.) and the Associate Manager of the Hellenic Esprit Special Action in Multimedia and CIM. Currently, she is working for ATHENA RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER, and University of Athens as Project Manager in Horizon2020 projects related to research infrastructures (RDA) and Virtual research environments for marine environment and acquaculture (BlueBridge H2020 project). In parallel, she supports as scientific consultant the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and the Archaelogical Society at Athens.
Abhilash Venkateshaiah
Research & Innovation Project Manager at Eden Tech
Dr. Abhilash Venkateshaiah is an Research & Innovation Project Manager at Eden Tech in Paris, France, specializing in innovation management and strategic development of sustainable CleanTech solutions. He oversees multidisciplinary R&D projects focused on water treatment and pollutant remediation, driving them from early-stage research toward market readiness. Abhilash holds a PhD in Nanotechnology, where he developed advanced polymer-based materials and catalysts for wastewater remediation among other applications. At Eden Tech, he has successfully led the development and funding of innovation projects, fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and policy stakeholders. His work lies at the intersection of science, sustainability, and strategy, transforming research into scalable technologies that advance environmental innovation.
Uroš Novak
Coordinator of the REMEDIES and BioApp Platform at the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Uroš Novak is an experienced researcher with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and over 15 years of expertise in advanced natural biomaterials, biotechnology, R&D, startup development, and zero-waste technologies. He leads the Research Group for Bioplastics, Biocomposites, and Zero-Waste Technologies at the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering of the National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia, managing a team of 15 researchers. Uroš has authored more than 50 scientific publications with over 250 citations and has spoken at more than 200 international events, including high-level European Commission panels as a Mission project coordinator. Passionate about transforming science into tangible impact, he was a finalist in the EU Social Innovation Challenge (2019), which led to the creation of the 123zero start-up, and has since co-founded two start-ups and directed a non-profit NGO while mentoring emerging innovators. He currently serves as the Coordinator of the Horizon Europe Mission Ocean & Waters Lighthouse project REMEDIES and the Interreg IT-SI project BIOAPP, and as principal investigator in more than ten European projects. Additionally, Uroš acts as an external expert for the European Commission in the fields of materials engineering, industrial biotechnology, blue economy, and new business opportunities.
Dr. Konstantinos Topouzelis
Co-founder and CEO of SciDrones
Dr. Konstantinos Topouzelis is the Co-founder and CEO of SciDrones, a spin-off from the University of the Aegean, Greece, where he also serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences and leads the Marine Remote Sensing Group (MRSG). His research focuses on remote sensing for marine and coastal applications, including satellite and drone image analysis, Object-Based Image Analysis, and coastal mapping. He ranks among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in Image Processing and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers. He actively contributes to international expert groups such as IOCCG, GEO Blue Planet and IMDOS, advancing global efforts in marine litter monitoring, digital ocean solutions, and environmental sustainability.
Dimitris Kokkinakis
Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer, Impact Hub Athens – Event Host
Dimitris Kokkinakis is a social entrepreneur and community-builder, he co-founded Impact Hub Athens in 2013, an ever-growing ecosystem of social innovators and entrepreneurs driving change through responsible, inclusive, and sustainability-driven initiatives. Impact Hub Athens is part of the global Impact Hub network, present in over 110 cities worldwide, connecting people, places, and programs to inspire, support, and catalyze impact. Since a young age he has been actively involved in national and international organizations and networks, working with diverse communities across sectors including entrepreneurship, the arts, and environment. Under his co-leadership, Impact Hub Athens has implemented large-scale initiatives at local, national, and EU levels, focusing on sustainability, inclusion, and climate resilience.
At the webinar, key concepts like digital ocean twins, blue finance, citizen science, and circular economy solutions will be introduced, setting a shared foundation for the sessions ahead.
The Agenda
📅 26 November | ⏰ 13:00 CET | ⏱️ 50 minutes
| Time | Segment | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 – 13:04 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | 4 min |
| 13:04 – 13:07 | ATHENA Research Center Introduction | 3 min |
| 13:07 – 13:11 | Session Overview & Speaker Introduction | 4 min |
| 13:11 – 13:23 | Speaker Presentations | 12 min |
| 13:23 – 13:39 | Fireside Chat | 16 min |
| 13:39 – 13:47 | Audience Q&A | 8 min |
| 13:47 – 13:50 | Summary & Closing Remarks | 3 min |
An interactive, moderated conversation exploring the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and ocean impact.
Scientific & Technical Focus
- What are the critical technical challenges in detecting and quantifying marine litter?
- How do we ensure scientific reliability when scaling from research to real-world deployment?
Entrepreneurial & Innovation Focus
- How did you transition from research to operational company?
- What funding and partnerships have been most valuable?
- What are the key lessons in scaling solutions for the Mediterranean context?
Systems & Mission Impact
- How can data, technology, and policy work together to make marine litter monitoring actionable?
- What’s next in contributing to the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030”?
Audience Q&A (8 min)
Your questions matter! Submit questions via chat, or if you’re joining from the Hackathon venue in Athens, ask directly using the microphone.
Summary & Closing (3 min)
Uroš Novak recaps the key insights bridging science, entrepreneurship, and community action.
Dimitris Kokkinakis delivers closing remarks on how PHAROS supports innovators tackling marine and freshwater challenges, and previews the next session in the Meet the Oceanpreneur webinar series.
Why Attend? Driving Impact Through Innovation
This webinar will show PHAROS’s commitment to connect scientific excellence with entrepreneurial action, particularly in addressing plastic pollution that threatens Mediterranean ecosystems. By showcasing real-world applications like AI-driven detection and purification tech, it equips students, NGOs, startups, and policymakers with tools to contribute to circular economy solutions and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Registration is free via the PHAROS website, promising a blend of inspiration and practical advice for anyone passionate about ocean health.
