The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Gere Foundation have signed an agreement to explore joint initiatives in environmental protection and planetary health.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Monaco on Saturday 19th September by Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II Foundation, and Ana Buitrago, President and CEO of the Gere Foundation, in the presence of actor and humanitarian Richard Gere.
The agreement does not yet establish a specific project or funding commitment. Instead, it creates a framework through which the two organisations can identify areas of common interest, share knowledge and expertise, promote environmental initiatives and draw on their respective international networks.
“Both foundations share a belief that compassion and responsibility must translate into meaningful action,” said Gere. “I am very pleased to see our organisations open this new chapter together and explore how our experience, networks and shared concerns can contribute to protecting the planet and building a more sustainable future.”
Richard Gere with Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II Foundation, and Ana Buitrago, President and CEO of the Gere Foundation. Photo source: FPA2
Connecting environmental action and community responsibility
The Gere Foundation supports organisations and initiatives working in areas including human and civil rights, community responsibility and environmental protection.
Gere’s environmental involvement includes the Sierra A Mar initiative in Mexico, which brings together local communities, government agencies, developers and other partners to promote regenerative, nature-based development.
For the Prince Albert II Foundation, the agreement expands its network of international partners working across environmental and community-based projects.
“Addressing environmental challenges requires organisations to work across sectors and communities, bringing together different forms of expertise and experience,” said Ciarlet. “This agreement gives us the opportunity to identify areas where our respective strengths can complement one another and support meaningful action for the planet.”
Richard Gere marks Foundation’s 20th anniversary in Monaco
The agreement was signed during a private screening of Wisdom of Happiness at the Théâtre Princesse Grace. Executive-produced by Gere, the documentary features the Dalai Lama reflecting on compassion, inner peace and happiness amid the challenges of the 21st century.
The screening was followed by a discussion with Gere and Tencho Gyatso, the Dalai Lama’s niece and President of the International Campaign for Tibet.
Gere was in Monaco for events marking the 20th anniversary of the Prince Albert II Foundation. The previous evening, he joined Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene as a guest of honour at the Foundation’s anniversary gala at the Salle Garnier.
During the gala auction, Gere offered a private lunch or dinner with himself as one of the fundraising lots supporting the Foundation’s environmental work.
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Main photo: Prince Albert II with Richard Gere at the Palace, credit: Michael Alesi
Forget Me Not walk brings Monaco together for Alzheimer’s
Around 100 people took part in Monaco’s inaugural Forget Me Not walk on Saturday 12th September, joining a five-kilometre route through the Principality in support of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Created by Danish fashion designer Isabell Kristensen, the event raised funds for the Association Monégasque pour la Recherche sur la Maladie d’Alzheimer (AMPA), with 100% of registration fees pledged directly to the Monaco-based association.
The initiative was inspired by Kristensen’s experience of losing her father to Alzheimer’s disease less than a year ago. Participants were invited to dedicate their walk to someone they wished to remember, honour or celebrate.
A five-kilometre journey through Monaco
The morning began outside the Isabell Kristensen boutique in Monaco-Ville before continuing through several locations across the Principality.
At Place du Palais, walkers gathered for a moment of reflection, accompanied by models wearing Kristensen’s designs and dancers. Participants then carried light-blue parasols towards the Princess Grace Japanese Garden, where a memory-themed treasure hunt formed part of the programme. The route concluded back in Monaco-Ville.
Fashion, art and movement were incorporated throughout the event as a way of addressing Alzheimer’s disease through shared memories and community participation.
Supporting Alzheimer’s research and families
AMPA supports scientific research and exchange, raises public awareness and assists people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families in Monaco.
The walk was held ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September and was intended to create a positive space for people whose lives have been affected by the disease.
Following the turnout for the first edition, Kristensen said she hopes Forget Me Not will become an annual event in Monaco, with the possibility of eventually expanding the concept internationally.
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Re-engineering the coastline: Insights from the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous
Held from 20th to 21st September at the Yacht Club de Monaco, the 6th edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous brought together international industry leaders to advance sustainable maritime development.
“By uniting innovators, scientists, and green bankers right here in the capital of advanced yachting, the Yacht Club de Monaco and M3 are proving that the future of maritime business isn’t just about sailing forward – it’s about thinking completely outside the box,” Neity Maddock, moderator and yachting industry specialist, told the audience.
Nemo’s Garden. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas
Nature as a partner: Ecology, engineering, and climate adaptation
Opening with a live call connecting directly from an underwater biosphere dome, the biodiversity conference began its second day with a scientist broadcasting straight from Nemo’s Garden – an innovative experimental underwater farm located off the coast of Noli on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, Italy. Submerged 40 to 80 metres off the shoreline in the Ligurian Sea at a depth of 6 to 10 metres, the project uses transparent, air-filled biospheres anchored to the seafloor to grow terrestrial plants like basil, herbs, and strawberries using natural solar heat and water condensation.
Following the live sub-surface broadcast, Luca Gamberini, head of marketing and co-founder, took the stage to elaborate on this innovative approach, explaining: “We are doing underwater growing with terrestrial plants in the most sustainable way possible – without artificial energy, external freshwater supplies or pesticides. At the same time, we are turning this environmental innovation into an engaging experience for visitors.”
From left to right: Dr. Megan Clampitt (Ponant), Sofía Sonsoles Doyágüez Sánchez (Go Bridge The Gap), Luca Gamberini (Nemo’s Garden) and Gonca Melek Özkan (Setur Marinas). Photo credit: Mesi
Building on this theme of immersive and sustainable environments, the session featured Dr. Megan Clampitt of Ponant, who highlighted how luxury travel and polar exploration intersect through research: “Operating polar exploration vessels allows us to reach remote areas that other ships simply cannot access. By welcoming scientists on board through rigorous committee selection and logistical planning, we turn luxury travel into a platform for vital research. Ultimately, science and tourism share a common heartbeat: discovery. Integrating scientific research into our voyages not only protects and expands our knowledge of extreme environments, but it also elevates the entire journey for our guests.”
Gonca Melek Özkan of Setur Marinas underscored the operational dependence on nature, saying: “Our business directly depends on nature, so protecting coastal ecosystems is really about protecting our own future. The golden rule is to first do no harm and then create a positive impact – replacing traditional concrete with living marine designs that actively support ocean life.”
From left to right: Adrien Griffiths (Chapman Taylor), Haneen Alrawashdeh (Ayla Oasis) and Joe Greene (MSEA Engineering). Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas
Mastering the coast: Urban planning and climate defense
Turning to architecture and engineering in another panel, Adrien Griffiths of Chapman Taylor shared insights on waterfront master-planning in Malta, explaining how they partnered with the government to revitalise the Grand Harbour by opening up commercial access and giving the public welcoming waterfront spaces where none existed before.
Addressing the growing structural threats of climate change, Joe Greene of MSEA Engineering warned that beyond rising sea levels and stronger storms, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events poses a severe danger to coastal infrastructure.
Focusing on accountability and habitat restoration, Haneen Alrawashdeh of Ayla Oasis – a major sustainable master-planned waterfront development in Aqaba, Jordan, built around a network of man-made marine lagoons – explained that the real challenge lies in translating sustainability commitments into measurable key performance indicators and department responsibilities. Highlighting their hands-on success, Alrawashdeh said: “We turned goals into action by expanding our coral nurseries to five sites, successfully cultivating 1,850 corals ready to restore our lagoons.”
Moderator Neity Maddock (at the front) with the conference on capital panel. Photo credit: Mesi
Capitalising the coast: Investment and infrastructure realities
Opening the financial discussions on how modern ports are turning into major investments, Andreas Bäckman of InfraVia Capital Partners said that big financial backers are ready, but the industry first needs to unite its smaller players: “There is already institutional capital in the sector, the real question is when it will become available at scale.” Bäckman explained that attracting this money means treating marinas more professionally: “We need data, benchmarking, and larger-scaled platforms.”
Tackling the lack of space for larger vessels, Marcos Pellejero Ibáñez of Mirazur Capital pointed out that most facilities were built decades ago for much smaller boats. By redesigning docks and deepening waterways, a marina with two hundred small berths can be converted to accommodate larger yachts. He contrasted this fixed European supply against a growing global fleet of over six thousand luxury superyachts averaging nearly fifty metres in length.
Highlighting how ports connect to local economies, Rodrick T. Miller of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council described marinas as powerful economic tools rather than simple recreational spots, stressing the need for public-private teamwork and a clear shared vision.
Winner of the pre-revenue pitch award, Jakub Kwapisz, CEO and co-founder of Kolbev (on the left) and Bernardo d’Alessandri, General Secretary and Managing Director of the Yacht Club de Monaco. Photo credit: Mesi
As the conference continued, pitch sessions took centre stage to showcase new startups ready to reshape the maritime industry. During one of the innovation pitching sessions, Dr. Jakub Kwapisz, CEO and co-founder of Kolbev – who ultimately won the pre-revenue pitch award – presented their winning solution to the logistical hurdles of port electrification: “It is very costly and complex to provide good electric charging or electric boats, which is why we created a B2B turnkey solution using autonomous mobile robots that travel around the marina to quickly and easily recharge any boat.”
Kwapisz explained that their mobile robots let marinas avoid the huge costs of fixing electrical grids, offering an easy way to charge new electric boats before building permanent stations.
Myceen presenting its circular materials. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas
Surface innovations and post-revenue pioneers
Among post-revenue presenters, Jani-Mikael Kuusisto, co-founder and CEO of The Warming Surfaces Company-who won the post-revenue pitch award-introduced an original thermal innovation: “We are doing for heating what LEDs did to lighting by integrating heating directly into surface structures. Backed by 20 years of research in roll-to-roll production, our technology embeds invisible heaters into everyday materials.” Kuusisto explained how their leading Halia system transforms ordinary architectural surfaces into ultra-low-voltage thermal units, offering seamless climate comfort inside marina facilities, offices, and vessel interiors without high energy costs.
Continuing through the post-revenue showcase alongside Kuusisto, Myceen and One Concept Marine highlighted distinct approaches to sustainable infrastructure and circular materials. Killu Leet, head of science for Myceen, explained their 100% bio-based manufacturing process to Monaco Life: “We grow things with mushrooms, but we do not sell mushrooms. We grow materials—combining mushroom mycelium with abundantly available, unused wood-based residues to create lightweight, fully biodegradable solutions that offer exceptional thermal comfort and acoustic performance.” Based in Tallinn, Estonia, Myceen utilises patented AI-driven production technology to scale their modular manufacturing toward 100 cubic metres per month, helping architecture and maritime markets slash fossil-fuel reliance.
Simultaneously, Thomas Aboulinc, founder of One Concept Marine, presented their clean energy infrastructure solutions: “A marina is the sunniest place in a town, so why does it still buy all its energy?” Aboulinc detailed how they design, manufacture, and install customised solar canopies for marinas and water-bound locations—higlighting their pioneering installation of a solar canopy on an existing floating pontoon at the Yacht Club de Monaco, which generates approximately 9,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Their multi-impact innovations include the Medzen pontoon, featuring an integrated solar canopy, rainwater harvesting systems for boat-washing, and an artificial reef underneath.
Awards ceremony at the 6th Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous presented by José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3 (on the right). Photo credit: Mesi
Securing tomorrow’s coastlines
For the scaling revenue category, Giorgio Cucé, CEO and founder of Seares – who secured the scaling pitch award – detailed their automated mooring solution: “Ports and marinas were designed and built for yesterday’s sea, but we are making them resilient for tomorrow’s conditions. Our answer is unique: active and adaptive mooring dampers that absorb energy, measure loads, and prove results.” Cucé emphasised that as extreme weather increases, active mechanical adaptation is vital to protect both infrastructure and vessels.
Complementing these award-winning technologies, additional innovators showcased breakthrough solutions. A representative from Mediterranean Algae explained their blue biotechnology approach: “We provide patented technology to handle this problem in three layers: detection, regeneration, and supervision—using algae to clean up to 95% of the pollution in the water.”
As the 6th Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous drew to a close, it became clear that the maritime industry stands at a vital turning point. Bridging the gap between ecological preservation and commercial viability, the event proved that sustainable ports are no longer a distant vision, but an actionable reality.
“As we close this chapter, we look ahead: we will return for another edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous next year, take our World Yachting Summit to the Dubai Boat Show, and launch our first-ever edition in Mumbai this December. The work continues,” concluded José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3.
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has launched a group-wide climate adaptation review after extreme summer heat affected restaurant activity and exposed weaknesses across some of its venues.
The initiative was revealed by SBM Deputy Chairman Stéphane Valeri during a press conference following the group’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 18th September.
While SBM reported an 8% increase in revenue across July and August, Valeri said the growth was driven largely by accommodation, while restaurants recorded only a slight improvement.
“The restaurant business suffered from the heatwave this summer,” he said. “At lunchtime, when it is 30 or 31 degrees and the sun is beating down, people are less inclined to eat on a terrace or consume alcohol.”
Stephane Valeri addressed the media on Friday after the MCSBM General Meeting. Photo source: MCSBM
Group-wide climate study ordered
Valeri has asked SBM’s new Director of Operations, Romain Meiran, to conduct a comprehensive study into how the group’s hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues must adapt to rising temperatures.
The report is expected by the end of 2026, allowing the first measures to be introduced in time for the beginning of the summer season in April 2027.
Proposals already being considered include greater use of vegetation and shade on terraces, more advanced misting systems, stronger air conditioning and lighter uniforms for employees working outdoors.
“This is something that concerns us all,” said Valeri. “We need to adapt better next year.”
Salle des Étoiles air conditioning to be upgraded
One of the priorities will be the Salle des Étoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo, where the existing air-conditioning system struggled to maintain comfortable temperatures during particularly hot evenings.
Valeri said the system would be strengthened after temperatures remained above 30°C at night during periods of the summer.
SBM is also assessing newer misting technologies capable of reducing temperatures without soaking guests – an important consideration, Valeri joked, for clients who do not want water falling on their hair.
Employee comfort will form another part of the review. The group is considering lighter uniforms for teams required to move continuously between tables and outdoor areas during extreme heat.
Later dining hours under consideration
Changing customer behaviour could also lead SBM to adjust the opening hours of some restaurant kitchens.
Valeri said demand at the traditional lunchtime peak had declined during the hottest periods, while more customers were arriving for lunch at 2.45pm or even 3pm.
“Eating at 3pm was not traditionally normal in Monaco, but customers are arriving increasingly late,” he said. “We may need to open kitchens later and close them later.”
The group will assess whether dining hours should shift at certain establishments to reflect both higher temperatures and the habits of its international clientele.
La Vigie among venues requiring changes
La Vigie Monte-Carlo is among the venues identified as needing further adaptation after lunchtime conditions became particularly difficult during the summer.
SBM plans to increase vegetation and improve guest comfort at the outdoor restaurant, which reopened this season under Italian chef Simone Zanoni. Valeri confirmed that Zanoni will return next year following what he described as a successful first season.
The climate review comes as the group continues to record strong overall growth. Revenue reached €271.3 million during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, up 11%, while July and August delivered a further 8% increase across all business sectors.
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More than 800 Monegasques gathered at Parc Princesse Antoinette for the traditional U Cavagnëtu picnic, bringing the community together for its annual gathering.
The picnic took place on Saturday 19th September, with Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attending alongside Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, Leticia de Massy, and several other members of the Princely Family.
Welcomed by Mayor Georges Marsan and members of the Municipal Council, the Princely Family joined fellow Monegasques for the event, which traditionally marks the return from summer and offers an opportunity for the community to come together again.
MONEGASQUE TRADITIONS AT THE HEART OF THE EVENING
The evening began with the presentation of bouquets and traditional dances by La Palladienne, before an outdoor Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, accompanied by traditional songs from the U Cantin d’A Roca choir.
Families gathered under the olive trees of Parc Princesse Antoinette with baskets brought for the occasion, along with Monaco City Hall’s selection of local specialties, including socca, barbecues, Monegasque fougasses, ice cream, and other treats.
The menu also extended beyond the Principality’s specialties as fresciœi di baccalà, a Ligurian specialty made with cod, was prepared on site in recognition of Monaco’s twinning with Dolceacqua, which will celebrate its third anniversary this November.
AN EVENING FOR ALL GENERATIONS
Music continued throughout the evening with a jazz quartet led by Académie Rainier III professor Lionel Vaudano, as well as performances from U Cantin d’A Roca.
Younger guests had the opportunity to take part in a tote bag decorating workshop and enjoy roaming clowns, while a photobooth gave families the chance to take home a memory from the evening.
Bringing together food, music, and traditions, U Cavagnëtu once again offered the community a chance to reunite following the summer and mark the beginning of a new season in the Principality.
Villa Kérylos, the seaside estate built to mirror ancient Greece, will offer free admission during European Heritage Days on 19th and 20th September, while launching an urgent public appeal for old photos, documents, and archives to shape its upcoming exhibition on the Reinach family and architect Emmanuel Pontremoli.
Over the weekend, from 10am to 5pm, visitors can walk freely through the ancient-style rooms. Guides are also leading special tours called ‘Villa Kérylos: The History of a Residence, the Legacy of a Family.’
Best of all, the tour ends with a special visit to the servants’ kitchen, a room usually closed to the public.
Inside Villa Kerylos. Photo credit: Clement Roux
Have you got family secrets? The search for lost treasures
This heritage weekend also marks the launch of an urgent call for contributions. To prepare for a new museum exhibition about the Reinach family and the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli, the team is searching for old photos, personal letters, documents, and family memories.
Organisers stress that even small or fragmentary items can help tell the story. With the owners’ permission, these personal contributions could end up featured right in the upcoming exhibition.
Anyone with relevant archives, documents, or personal accounts is invited to submit contributions by midnight on 30th November to exporeinach@villakerylos.fr.
