Marine biofouling has a tremendous economic and environmental impact; it can lead to >€1m in lost revenue per ship per year in fuel overconsumption alone. The International Maritime Organization estimates that gas emissions may increase between 38% and 72% by 2020, unless corrective measures are taken. The only way to mitigate biofouling is to detect it at an early stage (Level of Fouling – LoF 1), while it can still be cleaned with soft methods that do not damage hull paint or coating. With current approaches this is impossible, particularly within port waters as they are heavily turbid and inhibit visibility. Inspections outside port waters induce charter-off time that costs >€20k per day and are thus avoided by ship operators. SleekShip comprises a Semi-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (SAUV) carrying a hyperspectral camera that captures light wavelength bands where light backscattering is less and the slime is easier to distinguish despite contamination. The inspection can take place in port waters while the ship is docked for other operations thus no additional charter-off time is incurred. An integrated cavitation-based cleaning tool allows for 100% paint-safe cleaning. By detecting biofouling early, ship owners will be able to achieve >€1.3m savings per vessel annually by reducing fuel overconsumption and paint/coating damage caused by hard-brush cleaning. Our consortium comprises SubseaTech, a dynamic manufacturer of underwater robots, QCELL, a high-tech SME specialising in hyperspectral imaging, M.Danchor a leading cleaning and inspection services company, TWI, the global leader in image-based underwater inspection technologies and Danaos, a NYSE-listed containership owner. Through SleekShip we aim to achieve sales of €41m, generating €17.9m profits and >110 jobs while helping the shipping industry save €3.4bn per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 115m tonnes over the 5 years after market launch. The Net Present Value ROI is 4:1 on EC funds with a grant.

Around 300 million African girls and women are at risk of the poverty related disease, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), and 400 million are at risk for cervical cancer. Most of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa. FGS may be mistaken for cervical cancer or a sexually transmitted infection, and treated accordingly. Women may have FGS lesions, have cryptogenic bloody or malodorous discharge, or pain, and, be at higher risk for HIV and Human papillomavirus (HPV). FGS is best diagnosed by point-of-care visualisation of the shape and colour of the lesions. However, health professionals require several weeks of training where the disease is seen frequently, and often they need a colposcope to recognise FGS. Worldwide, there are only a handful of health professionals who are proficient in FGS diagnosis. A multispectral highly innovative colposcope linked to a smartphone, designed by an SME for cervical cancer recognition, will be adapted and validated for FGS diagnosis in this proposal. In three countries with different FGS epidemiology and different practices for gynaecological investigations of women, we will conduct a clinical trial in the spirit of the EDCTP agenda, with the ultimate aim of a patent and local production. With lessons from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an eLearning course will be designed and trialled. Equipment, consultations and training will be adapted to practical realities (cultures, unstable electricity/internet, poverty, vulnerability). As recommended by the WHO and the "HPV faster approach", the diagnosis should be at the point-of-care. Management and data collection protocols will be designed in collaboration with the national health authorities in Southern Africa, the WHO and also in one European country. This is a thrust to promote clinical research and digitalisation for vulnerable populations. Hundreds of clinicians and scientists will receive training in FGS, clinical trials, and social sciences.