Tide Breaker, the new subsea AI accelerator programme, has been officially unveiled at Offshore Europe, marking a major step forward in fast-tracking the development and deployment of artificial intelligence within subsea operations.
Designed to turn subsea innovation into real-world impact, Tide Breaker connects start-ups directly with industry data, infrastructure, and expertise, helping them accelerate from prototype to production.
The programme is powered by Elementz, backed by Compass, Tide Breaker’s strategic advisory board formed in May 2025, which includes representatives from leading energy operators such as Aker BP and Shell.
Created to transform how AI is developed, validated, and adopted across the subsea energy sector, Tide Breaker enables start-ups to align with real operational challenges while giving operators access to proven, integrated solutions that meet evolving industry needs.
This initiative is also supported by ONE Digital Tech and The Data Lab. The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, will leverage its experience running collaborative innovation challenges to act as a mentor for this ground-breaking programme. With ONE Digital Tech connecting Tide Breaker into the wider North East of Scotland innovation ecosystem, the programme is positioned to drive regional and global impact at scale.
Tide Breaker is built on the Elementz platform, a cloud-based SaaS solution for subsea integrity management that provides the digital infrastructure for participating start-ups to develop and test their technologies. Working within a controlled sandbox environment using validated datasets and APIs, start-ups will develop tools in areas such as anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and autonomous inspection.
Jason Brown, CEO of Elementz, said Tide Breaker sets a new standard for AI in the energy industry:
“Tide Breaker is a practical step toward making AI in subsea operations a reality. Start-ups often struggle to access real operational data or integrate with legacy systems. This programme gives them the tools and environment to build solutions that are tested, trusted, and deployable.”
The programme is also shaped by Compass, which was established to guide Tide Breaker’s development in close collaboration with operators. Through Tide Breaker, Compass members will define technical challenges, mentor participants, and evaluate outcomes for field deployment.
Camilla Leon, VP Subsea at Aker BP and Elementz board member, said:
“Tide Breaker represents everything Compass was built for, allowing operators to actively co-develop solutions with start-ups in a structured environment. It’s the kind of practical innovation the sector needs.”
An AI accelerator connecting Scottish AI producers with international operators and partners across the North East of Scotland, Tide Breaker is fully aligned with the impact-driven ecosystem fostered by ONE and The Data Lab.
Adam Turner, Head of Innovation at The Data Lab, added:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for SMEs to establish lasting and impactful ventures, form new business models, innovate, and explore supply chain partnerships alongside large operators. It provides access to novel data libraries and vital connections to industry players that would otherwise be hard to form.”
Key Dates
- October 2025 – Launch event and application opening
- November–December 2025 – Selection and onboarding
- January–June 2026 – Development, testing, and mentorship
- June 2026 – Demo and evaluation
- Q3–Q4 2026 – Commercialisation and platform integration
The formal launch of the Tide Breaker programme takes place in October 2025, with applications opening at that time. Selected start-ups will enter the programme by the end of the year, progressing through development and testing phases until mid-2026, followed by evaluation and commercial integration.
Start your journey from prototype to deployment – apply now.