Expedition+ @ One Ocean Week 2026: AI-accelerated Innovation Sprint
Title: Expedition+ @ One Ocean Week 2026: AI-accelerated Innovation Sprint
Topics: AI-accelerated innovation – Ocean sustainability – Entrepreneurship – Sustainable value creation
Date and duration: 20–23 April 2026. Four days: three intensive innovation sprint days and a final pitching day
Format: IN PERSON at NHH in Bergen during OneOcean Week 2026
Application Deadline: 18.02.2026
About the Activity
The AI-Accelerated Innovation Sprint is an intensive, research-based innovation experience in which students work in international and cross-institutional teams to tackle a high-impact, ocean-related challenge provided by a leading industry actor from the Bergen region.
Hosted by NHH during OneOcean Week in Bergen, the sprint combines scientific approaches to entrepreneurship, cutting-edge AI tools, and real-world problem solving in a fast-paced, high-energy format. Participants progress through a full innovation cycle – from problem framing and ideation to experimentation, prototyping, and pitching – with AI used as a cognitive amplifier rather than a shortcut.
Gain insights into the previous Expedition Weeks:
Past Expedition Weeks
About the Challenges
The sprint addresses real, ocean-related sustainability challenges grounded in regional industrial priorities and global transitions related to ocean health, climate, and sustainable value creation.
Challenges are provided by external partners and connect to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). At the same time, the challenges engage participants in innovation processes, business model development, and strategic decision-making under uncertainty.
Expected Impact
Students
- Hands-on experience with AI-accelerated innovation methods
- Practical exposure to real sustainability challenges linked to the ocean
- International teamwork in a high-intensity, interdisciplinary setting
- Development of entrepreneurial, analytical, and communication skills
Researchers and PhD Candidates
- Exposure to applied innovation methodologies grounded in research
- Opportunities to engage with real-world sustainability challenges
- Networking with industry, innovation actors, and international peers
- External Partners and Innovation Ecosystem
- Fresh perspectives on strategic ocean-related challenges
- Early interaction with highly motivated, international talent
- Strengthened collaboration between academia, industry, and society
Activity Overview
Participants work in international teams over four days, guided by structured workshops, experimentation sprints, mentoring sessions, and expert feedback.
Indicative flow:
- Online pre-module: onboarding, methods, and AI tools
- Day 1–3 (in Bergen): problem framing, ideation, experimentation, prototyping
- Day 4: final pitch presentations to a jury of industry and innovation partners, followed by feedback and networking
A detailed daily program will be shared closer to the event.
Your Profile
The ENGAGE.EU Entrepreneurial Pathway is targeted at Master and PhD students affiliated with ENGAGE.EU partner universities. Participants of any citizenship and any field of study who are enrolled at an ENGAGE.EU partner university are welcome to apply.
Application
To apply for the ENGAGE.EU Entrepreneurial Pathway you should provide:
- The online registration form
- A short CV (one page max.)
All documents must be submitted in English.
Selection
Submitted applications are evaluated by the academic and management staff of the ENGAGE.EU Labs. Candidates will be evaluated based on their application, motivation and CV. To ensure equal participation, the selection committee will aim at choosing 1-2 participants from each partner university. Final decisions also consider a range of criteria for cohort composition, including but not limited to disciplinary balance, institutional diversity, and demographic diversity.
Additional Details
Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, at midnight CET.
Results will be communicated in early March 2026.
For further information, please contact: linda.rutledal@nhh.no
Apply here:
Disclaimers
Disclaimer 1: The calendar of the in-presence Entrepreneurial Pathways activity might be incompatible with some academic calendars of Erasmus, Exchange Partners, Double Degree or other mobility programs. Students interested in both programs are urged to check academic calendars accordingly.
Disclaimer 2: This email is sent to manage and facilitate your participation in the educational and/or extracurricular activities organized by the University.