The Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), CoE MARBLE – Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and
Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy and INESCTEC.OCEAN – Centre of
Excellence in Ocean Research and Engineering, leading research and innovation
centres for the blue economy, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
the sidelines of the 17th International Interdisciplinary Field Workshop of
Maritime Robotics and Applications, 'Breaking the Surface' 2025.
The MoU marks a new chapter of long-term collaboration in
marine and maritime innovation between the three Centres of Excellence from
Cyprus, Croatia and Portugal respectively.
The cooperation will focus on jointly establishing specific
R&I programs or projects of mutual interest in the areas of marine and
maritime science and technology, which will include, among others, big data and
cyber security, robotics and autonomous systems, materials, structures and
testing, sensors for environmental monitoring, modelling and mapping, energy
and subsea resources, vessel design and performance, digitalisation and other
Blue Economy applications.
Moreover, at the heart of this MoU is a shared commitment to
cooperate jointly in organising training courses, mobility programs, industrial
attachments, seminars, symposia, workshops and conferences related to marine
and maritime science and technology.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding symbolises
a shared commitment to bridging cutting-edge research with industry-driven
challenges in autonomous maritime systems.
We expect this partnership to yield tangible outcomes:
accelerated R&D in autonomous systems, joint participation in European and
international funding programs, technology transfer initiatives, and the
training of next-generation engineers and researchers”, said Prof. dr. sc. Nikola Mišković,
Director of CoE MARBLE.
“This MoU is important because it reinforces a framework for cooperating in Marine and Maritime Research and Innovation. It symbolises a mutual commitment to work together in advancing critical research areas like big data and cyber security, robotics and autonomous systems, materials, structures and testing, among other Ocean technology related topics, which are essential for the development and the sustainability of marine and maritime sectors. The expected outcomes include a closer alignment between academic research and industry needs, the development of new green technologies, and the advanced education of engineers and professionals to support blue economy industry”, added Marta Barbas, Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors of INESC TEC.
Zacharias Siokouros, CMMI’s Chief Executive Officer concluded:
“This Memorandum of Understanding marks an important milestone for CMMI and
for Cyprus, opening a new chapter of long-term collaboration in marine and
maritime innovation with CoE MARBLE and INESCTEC.OCEAN, two leading Centres of
Excellence from Croatia and Portugal. It reflects the strong partnership
already established among our organisations, which we are now committed to
elevating even further, linking cutting-edge research and innovation with
real-world applications and reinforcing European cooperation in this vital
field.”
Present at the signing ceremony were H.E. Aleksandar Sunko,
Ambassador of Croatia to Cyprus (based in Athens), Ioannis Kyriakides, CMMI’s
Marine Technology Research Director and Diana Viegas, INESCTEC.OCEAN Project
Lead and Senior Researcher at INESC TEC.
About CMMI
The Cyprus Marine and
Maritime Institute (CMMI) is an independent, international, science and
business-driven research, innovation, and technology development centre
established to promote excellence in the marine and maritime sectors. CMMI
engages in multidisciplinary research, fosters innovation, and drives
sustainable growth in the Blue Economy.
About CoE MARBLE
Centre of Excellence MARBLE,
founded by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and
Computing (UNIZG-FER), is a leading hub for maritime robotics and sustainable
blue economy innovation, advancing research and solutions in robotics, green
endurance, IoT, and digital twins.
About INESCTEC.OCEAN
INESCTEC.OCEAN is the first Portuguese Centre of Excellence fully dedicated to Ocean Research and Engineering. It was established to address global marine challenges through cutting-edge science, technology, and collaboration. Rooted in Portugal’s historical connection.
Media Contacts:
CMMI Press office
Email: press@cmmi.blue
Tel: +357 24 506155
Website: www.cmmi.blue
