First international winners of the Stena Line Propeller Prize

During Innovation Day March 7th in Karlskrona, Sweden this year’s winners of the Stena Line Propeller Prize 2019 were announced. The 100 000 SEK award was handed out in two categories, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Marine technology, where the first international company was awarded since the start 2015.

Photo: Anna Borkowska, Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, Gdynia in Poland, Winner Searis technologies: Jakub Zdroik, Aleksandra Zgrundo and Konrad Klepacki, Monica Strandhag - Stena Line, AllBinary winner: Christian Malmström and Tomas Sareklint and Magnus Forsbrand - Blue Science Park

The Stena Line Propeller Prize is an entrepreneurial award granted annually to encourage new companies and partnerships, within Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Maritime Technology, that enrich and develop the business climate in the Baltic Sea region.

The winner in the ICT category, AllBinary, is committed to helping cities and industries reap the full benefit of the Internet of Things revolution offering both products and services. One of the examples they presented was a sensor to attach to life buoys enabling the municipality to know when one needed replacement, making sure there is always one available in the time of need.

“A simple, useful and innovative way to use sensors in a platform. It’s very clear how this product can bring large savings and other benefits to society in terms of efficiency and increased safety”, says Monica Strandhag, Trade Manager Baltic Sea South at Stena Line and Chairman of the Propeller Prize Jury.

The winner in the Marine technology category, Searis Technologies focuses on designing and producing Unmanned Surface Vehicles for hydrographic and scientific applications. Their product has been used by researchers exploring the melting polar caps, enabling them to conduct their research from a safe distance.

“Searis Technologies’ idea has a high degree of innovation and its benefits has been proven in real life and in a tough environment. The product has a potential to save lives and to enable important research regarding climate change with less risk. We also see a good potential for this product to be scalable into other business areas”, says Monica Strandhag.

Searis Technologies was also the first ever international company to win the Stena Line Propeller Prize.

“There has been an all time high in applications this year, from all over the Baltic Sea region which we are very happy about. And we hope Searis Technologies, as the first international winner, will inspire even more international companies to apply next year”, says Monica Strandhag.

The award is SEK 100,000 for each category, and the winners were announced on the Innovation Day dinner. An annual event presented by Blue Science Park in collaboration with ALMI, Blekinge Business Incubator (BBI), Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Karlskrona municipality, Stena Line and Region Blekinge, with the aim of creating a meeting place for companies, researchers, start-ups and students within Digital, eHealth and Marine technology.

For more information please contact Jesper Waltersson, Group Media & Public Relations Manager, +46 704 85 85 32.

Stena Line is one of Europe's leading ferry companies with 38 vessels and 20 routes in Northern Europe. Stena Line is an important part of the European logistics network and develops new intermodal freight solutions by combining transport by rail, road and sea. Stena Line also plays an important role for tourism in Europe with its extensive passenger operations. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg. Stena Line is part of the Stena AB Group, which has about 15 000 employees and an annual turnover of around 36,5 billion SEK. For more information please visit www.stenaline.com