Energy Class · Team Profile

INNOBOAT BIZKAIA

🇪🇸 University of the Basque Country

InnoBoat Bizkaia is a multidisciplinary project from the Bilbao School of Engineering (EIB) at the University of the Basque Country, bringing together the experience and knowledge of different engineering fields. The team is dedicated to developing innovative projects in nautical engineering and maritime sustainability, with a clear goal: to design and build a state-of-the-art sustainable boat, evaluated by international experts at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Guided throughout by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, InnoBoat Bizkaia combines technical ambition with a strong commitment to responsible, real-world engineering.

The team

Meet the team

The team is composed of highly motivated students from a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical engineering, electronics, electrical engineering, computer science, naval architecture, and design. This multidisciplinary structure enables a comprehensive and integrated approach to complex engineering challenges, combining technical performance, functionality, and visual identity. The team operates with the continuous support of experienced mentors from the respective fields, who provide technical guidance, ensure adherence to professional standards, and support knowledge transfer from academia to real-world application.

University

University of the Basque Country (Bilbao School of Engineering, EIB)

Country

🇪🇸 Spain

Based in

Bilbao, Spain

Class

Energy Class

Racing number

N°11

The boat

InnoBoat Bizkaia

INNOBOAT BIZKAIA, from the Bilbao School of Engineering at the University of the Basque Country, is developing an intelligent electric boat designed to improve efficiency, decision-making, and operational performance. The vessel integrates a real-time route optimisation system, allowing it to adapt navigation strategies according to operating conditions and improve overall energy management. The boat is equipped with a 6 kW electric propulsion system, supported by a modular architecture that makes the platform more flexible, scalable, and easier to optimise. This design approach helps enhance reliability while allowing future upgrades to be integrated more efficiently. A key innovation of INNOBOAT BIZKAIA is its onboard AI assistant, which supports the team by analysing performance data and helping improve decision-making during testing and competition. By combining intelligent navigation, electric propulsion, modular engineering, and artificial intelligence, INNOBOAT BIZKAIA presents a smart and efficient solution for modern sustainable marine racing.

Type

Electric racing boat

propulsion

Efficient electric propulsion

Energy

Battery electric + solar panels (added 2026)

energy Class · 2026

Follow the team at the Challenge

InnoBoat Bizkaia competes in the Energy Class at the 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, 7–11 July 2026 in Port Hercule. Representing the Bilbao School of Engineering at the University of the Basque Country, the team builds on its 9th-place finish in 2025 by shifting from hardware to system intelligence, with Copernicus-based route planning, a conversational AI assistant and a custom in-house lithium-ion powertrain.