CBS launches new maritime incubator to support student startups and drive innovation in Blue Denmark

Copenhagen Business School has launched a new incubation programme with support from the Danish Maritime Fund to empower student-led startups with funding and mentoring. The goal: to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Denmark’s maritime sector.

04/03/2025

Denmark’s maritime industry is facing major transitions – from green transformation to digitalisation – and fresh thinking is needed to tackle the challenges ahead. 

To support the next generation of maritime entrepreneurs, CBS Maritime and the Department of Operations Management have launched a new incubation programme tailored to students with promising business ideas.

“The maritime sector needs innovative solutions, but many early-stage entrepreneurs lack the commercial insight to turn ideas into viable businesses. This is where CBS can play a key role,” says Giulio Zichella, Assistant Professor and project lead.

From idea to impact
The programme combines two core elements: micro-grants to support early-stage development and tailored mentoring through the Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship. The aim is to help students move from idea to action – and ultimately to market.
“The startup phase is critical. It’s where ideas take shape and direction. By supporting students at this early stage, we can help them transform their vision into something tangible that can add real value to the industry,” says Zichella, who holds a background in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Inspired by DTU Skylab
The initiative was launched on 1 January 2025, following a dialogue with the Danish Maritime Fund, which has also supported a similar model at DTU Skylab. That programme has already helped catalyse maritime innovation through early-stage funding, and its success served as an important reference point for CBS.

Building a broader innovation ecosystem
While the programme is anchored at CBS Maritime and department of Operations Management, its ambition goes far beyond individual student projects. By connecting students, researchers, and industry experts, it aims to spark collaboration and accelerate innovation across Blue Denmark.

“This isn’t just about CBS. It’s about creating a national ecosystem for maritime innovation, where people from different disciplines and backgrounds can come together to build something new,” says Zichella.

The first round of micro-grants has already launched, and CBS is now inviting students and partners alike to take part in the journey.
 

The page was last edited by: Department of Operations Management // 04/03/2025