EcoNavis Solutions, the maritime technology company behind the Eco Boss Cap propeller hub, has secured a major investment package and joined an accelerator programme as it scales operations to meet growing industry demand for its hydrodynamic efficiency solutions.
The Glasgow-based start-up has been awarded £300,000 in funding through the UK’s Innovate UK ICURe Exploit programme to support the commercialisation of university research. EcoNavis Solutions is a commercial spin-out from the University of Strathclyde. The funding follows EcoNavis Solutions’ completion of all stages of the ICURe process, including product testing and validation.
EcoNavis founder and CEO Dr Batuhan Aktas said: “This is a unique form of funding, because it reimburses 100% of the costs as we scale, including salaries, exhibitions, customer engagement and business development. It’s a significant endorsement of the commercial potential of our technology.”
The company has received £55,000 to date, with the full £300,000 released in phases as the project progresses, enabling EcoNavis to continue expanding its capabilities and reach. The funding is being used alongside matched investment to recruit key personnel and accelerate the company’s commercial deployment programme.
EcoNavis has been accepted into the Smart Things Accelerator Centre, a specialist technology scale-up hub in Glasgow. The 18-month programme provides mentoring and support across four structured growth stages. The company now occupies dedicated office space at the centre and has grown its core team, including a CTO, COO, lead CFD engineer, and an administrative manager.
Aktas said: “The growth in 2025 has been substantial. At the start of the year, we were just a couple of people. Now, with funding and structured support in place, we’re putting the right expertise and infrastructure in place to take environmentally and energy efficient solutions through to large-scale commercial adoption.”
EcoNavis is awaiting responses to several additional grant applications. T
The Eco Boss Cap is a hydrodynamic energy-saving device fitted to a ship’s propeller hub cap, designed to improve propulsion efficiency, reduce emissions, and deliver measurable fuel savings across a range of vessel types and speeds.
EcoNavis founder and CEO Dr Batuhan Aktas (source: EcoNavis)
