The innovative Italian startup nlcomp won the Smart Innovative Yacht Award in the startup category earlier this month at the Smart Yacht Rendezvous.
The first Smart Yacht Rendezvous was held during the 6th Monaco Ocean Week - an initiative supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The esteemed Monaco Yacht Club hosted the event, and HSH Prince Albert II formally opened it. This event was yet another step in the yacht club’s mission to pave the way for sustainable initiatives and to drive positive change within the yachting industry. These events within Ocean Week culminate to form part of the wider Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting approach - a vision which strives to promote and encourage Monaco to develop into the capital of sustainable yachting.
Monaco Marina Management organised this first Rendezvous and benefited from the support of the environmentally-minded shipyard MB92, Prince Albert II Foundation and Credit Suisse. The focus of the event was for startups and innovative companies involved to create a collective response to the issue of climate change, presenting their sustainable solutions to and for the industry. The two-day event resulted in the Smart Innovative Yacht Awards.
Prior to the event, applications for the awards were submitted and the independent and carefully-selected jury of 40 shortlisted the candidates. This international jury combined a range of industry professional experts, from shipyards, corporates, investors, designers, and brokers to Captains and owners. After a series of interviews, finalists were chosen, and winners were selected across three categories - startup, scaleup and corporate - with nlcomp taking the startup award.
"We are really proud to have been recognised and awarded the startup award as part of this important event in Monaco. It was a very interesting and inspiring event, with world-class designers and big players in the sector. We had the opportunity to talk about our recyclable technology and future plans to accelerate the move towards greener yachting." - Fabio Bignolini, nlcomp CEO
This prestigious accolade recognises and acknowledges nlcomp's significant contribution of their innovative, recyclable composite solution for the boating industry's end-of-life problem - leading the transformation towards a fully circular economic model. Using thermoplastic resin and natural and recycled fibres in the construction of their Ecoracer OD30 reduces overall environmental impact while guaranteeing end-of-life recycling.
Timely won as The European Boating Industry (EBI) recently announced a roadmap for solving this end-of-life issue. This initiative aims to provide sustainable solutions to the challenge of disposing of boats - a significant concern for the marine industry. It identifies the ambitious target of the commitment to phase out unsustainable recycling processes by 2030 - and with nlcomp's solution, this can now be achievable.
Having already opened pre-orders for its Ecoracer, this award confirms nlcomp's success in its commitment and its offering of a viable solution to solve the end-of-life boating challenge. The boat will be launched this July at The Ocean Race Grand Finale in Genoa. Following this in 2024 will be the development of the Ecoracer Sailing Series, the world's first entirely sustainable regatta boats.