10151706OceanIQ: A Marine Geospatial Analytics Platform for Net-Zero Decarbonisation and Environmental ResilienceClosedGrant for R&DInnovate UKThe South Wales industrial cluster faces a critical challenge in achieving its net zero ambitions: how to make informed decisions about marine infrastructure while protecting and enhancing the region's valuable marine environment. Currently, environmental data needed for planning industrial decarbonisation projects (floating offshore wind, hydrogen infrastructure, port extensions) exists in fragmented forms across multiple organisations (including Natural Resources Wales, The Crown Estate, and JNCC), making it difficult to assess impacts, identify opportunities, and accelerate the transition to clean energy. OceanIQ will develop an innovative marine geospatial analytics platform that transforms how the South Wales industrial cluster approaches environmental decision-making. By consolidating diverse environmental and oceanographic datasets into intuitive map layers, the platform will help coastal infrastructure operators, renewable energy developers, and conservation groups make better-informed decisions about marine infrastructure and environmental enhancement. OceanIQ integrates advanced machine learning and high-resolution spatial analytics with deep understanding of industrial needs to create practical tools for environmental assessment. Users will be able to evaluate potential sites for offshore renewable energy projects, plan cable routes with minimal environmental impact, and identify opportunities for marine ecosystem restoration. This comprehensive approach supports both industrial decarbonisation and biodiversity enhancement, helping the region achieve its economic and environmental goals. A key innovation lies in the platform's ability to support nature-based solutions within industrial planning. As marine conservation requirements evolve, stakeholders will be able to identify suitable areas for initiatives like seagrass restoration or artificial reef creation. This proactive approach to environmental management helps industrial operators meet emerging regulatory requirements while contributing to marine ecosystem health. The project brings together expertise from across South Wales' innovation ecosystem. Technical validation will be provided by ORE Catapult's Pembroke facility, while scientific input comes from regional research institutions. Close collaboration with the Celtic Sea Developers Alliance ensures the platform meets real-world industry needs. By reducing the time and cost of environmental assessments while improving decision quality, OceanIQ will accelerate South Wales' transition to net zero. The project supports multiple regional priorities including industrial decarbonisation, floating offshore wind deployment, and marine biodiversity enhancement. Successful delivery will strengthen South Wales' position as a leader in sustainable industrial development and create new opportunities for the region's growing clean technology sector.