PORTS & COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACTION LAB

The Ports and Coastal Infrastructure Action Lab is a cross-sector, structured platform designed to accelerate and deploy nature-positive solutions for sustainable port infrastructure.

Ports are at the forefront of the transition toward a nature-positive and climate-resilient economy. As critical hubs connecting global supply chains, energy systems, and industrial infrastructure, they face increasing pressure to reduce environmental impacts while adapting to new risks and opportunities.

Orchestrated by Innovate 4 Nature (I4N) and Metastable Ventures, the Ports Action Lab brings together leading corporates, infrastructure operators, investors, and partners to collaboratively identify key challenges and accelerate the discovery, testing, and deployment of nature-positive solutions in port and coastal ecosystems.

By combining shared expertise with curated access to high-potential innovations, the Action Lab enables members to reduce risk, gain early access to emerging technologies, and turn sustainability ambitions into tangible outcomes.

THE APPROACH

01 Co-define

We work with Action Lab members to identify their most pressing operational challenges.

02 Scout & select

We run a structured call for solutions, curating the most relevant startups.

03 Pilots

The best solutions engage directly with the I4N Action Lab, and the independent Metastable Venture Investment Platform may back the most promising startups.

EXAMPLES OF CORE TOPICS & INNOVATION AREAS

Energy systems

Nature-based cooling systems
Hybrid green energy sites
Ecological restoration in floating energy sites
Nature-based flood buffers protecting infrastructure

Circular materials & infrastructure

Low-carbon, bio-based construction materials
Regenerative coastal protection
Nature-based dredging and sediment reuse

Natural capital

Blue carbon projects and habitat restoration zones
Ecological buffer ones to reduce flood & erosion risks
Digital biodiversity MRV
Biodiversity credits & natural capital accounting

Supply chains & logistics

Waste-to-material innovation for logistics hubs
Circular packaging ecosystems and reverse logistics models
Regenerative cold-chain solutions

Joint impact, shared risks

The Ports Action Lab provides a unique cross-sector orchestration, which brings together ‘unlikely allies’, focuses on value creation, and offers an implementation engine for vetted solutions.

A dual engine:

1 – Action Lab run by Innovate 4 Nature

Activities: sources nature-positive solutions addressing members’ most pressing challenges
Members receive: access to curated startups and pilots, preferred procurement access
Outcomes: turns sustainability budget into a value driver
Required financial commitment: CHF 50k – 100k

2 – Investment Platform run by Metastable Ventures

Activities: for selected ventures emerging from the I4N Action Lab, Metastable Ventures may invest directly and structure deal-by-deal syndication with investment partners.
Members receive: financial returns & co-investment rights, early access to portfolio companies & other labs
Outcomes: turns innovation budget into a balance sheet asset
Investment terms, eligibility criteria and transaction structures are communicated separately by Metastable Ventures

We are actively seeking founding partners who want to shape what’s next and lead the transition. The strongest Action Labs are built together – we welcome you at the table.

JOIN US

Interested in joining an Action Lab or tackling a value chain challenge?

Contact I4N:

Interested in potential investment opportunities emerging from the Action Labs?

Contact Metastable Ventures:

If you’re interested in joining an Action Lab or tackling a value chain challenge: contact I4N.

If you’re interested in potential investment opportunities emerging from the Action Labs: contact Metastable Ventures.