Robocean, a robotics start-up, is an organisation of engineers dedicated to streamlining marine ecosystem restoration, with a particular focus on seagrass recovery and a vision of seagrass restoration re-imagined.
Challenge
Seagrass ecosystems are globally distributed, and the process involved in their restoration is slow, expensive and inefficient. This is primarily because they are challenging environments, but also because of the manual labour involved in completing the field work needed for restoration. In the last century, we’ve lost 1/3 of global seagrass coverage, and in the UK, it can be up to 92%.
Robocean are aiming to develop a robotic systems capable of restoring marine ecosystems faster than traditional methods, at a fraction of the cost.
Solution
Robocean needed to develop robotics and software capable of delivering a viable solution, which led them to join the Higgs Business Incubation Centre (Higgs BIC).
During their time at the Higgs BIC, Robocean progressed the development of a system capable of planting seagrass seeds up to 100 times faster than current restoration methods. This breakthrough significantly lowers the barriers to participation in marine restoration projects, making them more accessible and scalable.
Access to funding, office space, laboratories, testing facilities, and targeted business support enabled Robocean to accelerate development, grow their team, and respond more effectively to customer demand.
Impact
Robocean came to the Higgs Centre for Innovation with an innovative idea, and with the support of the facility and technical experience, the team now have an operational underwater Robot.
Robocean have since been contracted by Scottish Marine Environment Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) to restore 1.5 ha of intertidal seagrass by March 2028, at Montrose Basin, Scotland.
In November 2025, the team went to France to complete a pilot test, to get additional validation of their technology, with some further support from Nature Scot.
Following their graduation from the programme, they moved to the National Robotarium. Their plan is to take on future restoration projects across the UK and expand again into the US and Australia.
“The Higgs BIC was fundamental in the early-stage development of our robotic solution and business. The proximity of laboratory and office space coupled with access to additive manufacturing facilities and world-class technical expertise really expedited our prototype development. They even let us have a 120 litre fish tank for testing in a clean lab, which was a first for The Royal Observatory and possibly a last too.”
Niall McGrath, CEO, Robocean
The Higgs Business Incubation Centre (Higgs BIC) is part of STFC’s DeepTech Catalyst, one of Europe’s leading start up hubs 2026 as ranked by the Financial Times. Find out more about the DeepTech Catalyst: www.dtc.stfc.ac.uk/
