Hidrocibalae, a Croatian offshore data specialist and provider of marine geophysical data processing and offshore survey consultancy, has been named the winner of the SME Europe Award 2026 in the category Digital Evolution and Smart Business in EU Parliament in Brussels.
The award recognises Hidrocibalae contribution to high-quality offshore geophysical data delivery, advanced automation, and its role in supporting large-scale offshore energy and marine infrastructure projects across Europe.
Hidrocibalae informed us in a press release that it currently provides data processing and analytical support for over 90% of offshore renewable energy projects in European waters, applying delivery standards and quality controls fully aligned with the requirements of the oil & gas, offshore engineering, and marine construction sectors.
By processing and interpreting large volumes of high-resolution marine geophysical data, the company enables reduced uncertainty in seabed interpretation, safer offshore construction and installation activities, optimized foundation, route, and asset design, and lower technical and environmental risk.
A core strength of Hidrocibalae delivery model is its investment in automation, standardisation, and data integrity. The company has developed more than 100 automated processing workflows, designed to improve consistency, repeatability, and turnaround time while maintaining strict quality control.
These workflows are applied across multibeam echosounder (MBES), side-scan sonar (SSS), magnetometer, sub-bottom profiling, UXO-related datasets.
Recognised Expertise and Responsible Delivery
The award citation highlighted the technical expertise of Hidrocibalae multidisciplinary team, and a management approach based on accountability, transparency, and operational integrity.
Founded in Vinkovci, Croatia, Hidrocibalae today employs 80 specialists in geophysics, hydrography, geology, information technology, and marine engineering, delivering projects across European and international offshore markets.
The award was accepted on behalf of the company by Founder and CEO Dino Dragun, who emphasised the responsibility behind the recognition: “This award reflects the trust placed in our data and our people. In offshore projects, data quality directly affects safety, cost, and execution risk. Our responsibility is to deliver consistent, transparent, and defensible results – regardless of project size or location.”
