The Challenge
The NEOM Education, Research and Innovation (ERI) foundation established the Ocean Science and Solutions Applied Research Institute (OSSARI) with the goal of protecting warm-water marine ecosystems through world-leading science and translational technology.
The team were inspired by the aim, but faced challenges familiar to anyone setting up a new research institute: how to raise awareness, establish credibility and differentiate themselves from others in a crowded field? A launch event seemed like an obvious answer, but this raised another set of questions and risks. Too modest an event might go unnoticed, and larger events are dauntingly difficult to prepare and run.
The content, speakers and audience were other unknowns. No-one wanted a dry academic conference with one talk after another, and a diverse set of high-profile speakers and attendees were needed to both inspire and seed collaborations. The team were unsure of how to find the best people, and then coach them to deliver an inspiring and coherent narrative.
There was also the issue of team capacity. With tight timelines and limited resources, the team did not have enough time to handle everything, such as identifying and briefing the speakers.
The solution
Outsmart Insight put together one of our signature workshops - what we like to call a ‘futorial’. What makes it different? The event is artfully designed to help attendees imagine the future, using storytelling techniques such as technology ‘backcasting’ or the ‘hero’s journey’. Hosted at Sea Containers in London, the event attracted X attendees from around the world.
We assembled an all-star cast of speakers. Professor Donal Bradley CBE FRS, former head of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences division of the University of Oxford, set the scene for the day. Professor Xabier Irigoien, NEOM Science Director, drew a parallel with space exploration, noting that Mars rovers investigate organic chemistry in ways that could be beneficial to ocean science. Julie Robidart, Group Head of Ocean Technology and Engineering at the National Oceanography Centre, called out the urgency of protecting marine life.
To provide a commercial angle, these speakers were followed by three company leaders. Alexander Bahr, Co-founder at Hydromea, discussed new techniques for gathering subsea data at scale. Carl Emrby, founder at 3D at Depth, described how lidar can measure the dimensions of structures such as coral that sonar cannot effectively detect. And Paul Scerri, President at Platypus, imagined a fleet of autonomous platforms collecting and sharing data, ultimately creating a predictive model of the Red Sea.
Outsmart handled end-to-end delivery, from supporting keynote speakers to developing branded materials to support post-event communications. We also created lasting assets: a dedicated website, high-quality video recordings, and a white paper capturing expert insights.
The impact
The futorial convened some of the most eminent minds in ocean science and technology, facilitating meaningful discussion around OSSARI’s strategic direction in marine research. Attendees praised the immersive experience, the intellectual rigour, and the event’s ability to bridge technical depth with strategic foresight. OSSARI gained clarity on future sensing priorities as well as forward-looking content and a branded narrative, reinforcing its leadership in marine science innovation. You can watch videos from the event here.
