Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CMMI – MaRITeC-X (Marine and Maritime Research, Innovation, Technology Centre of Excellence)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-04-01 do 2023-09-30
With the economic recession behind it, the economy of Cyprus is expanding at a rate comparable to that of the global economy. Research, technology development, and innovation (RTDI), are key factors in the economic competitiveness and sustainability of Cyprus, and Europe. RTDI has been receiving significant attention by policy makers and entrepreneurs in Cyprus over the last decade. RTDI is crucial for the development of a sustainable knowledge-based economy, and a new economic development model with innovation-led growth at its core; this is reflected in the tendency for a growing distribution of resources towards activities supporting this change.
Despite Cyprus hosting three state universities (and a number of private ones) this significant resource remains untapped and rarely exploited beyond the confines of academia. To reverse this ultimately detrimental relation between research and innovation, Cyprus is in dire need of an intermediary to help the country rise out of its RTDI slumber. This project establishes the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) as a Centre of Excellence for marine and maritime research, innovation and technology development based in the city of Larnaca, Cyprus. CMMI’s vision is to drive sustainable Blue Growth by addressing the needs of industry and society within the spectrum of the marine and maritime sectors. It has ten Research and Innovation Centres that are involved in marine observation, marine robotics, maritime digitalisation, maritime engineering, marine and coastal ecosystems, the maritime human element, marine cultural heritage, marine and maritime policies and regional cooperation and underwater and seabed technologies.
The CMMI - Maritec-x project with the establishment of CMMI seeks to accomplish the following objectives:
- Achieve scientific excellence
- Establish state-of-the-art research and technology development facilities
- Build a strong network of experts
- Bridge the gap between research and industry
- Training and support for entrepreneurship
- Increase the research and industrial funding secured by Cyprus
- Create a critical mass of entrepreneurial and innovation-driven RTDI activities
- Increase the social engagement of scientists and entrepreneurs
- Act as a catalyst for establishing innovation-driven policies
Despite Cyprus hosting three state universities (and a number of private ones) this significant resource remains untapped and rarely exploited beyond the confines of academia. To reverse this ultimately detrimental relation between research and innovation, Cyprus is in dire need of an intermediary to help the country rise out of its RTDI slumber. This project establishes the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) as a Centre of Excellence for marine and maritime research, innovation and technology development based in the city of Larnaca, Cyprus. CMMI’s vision is to drive sustainable Blue Growth by addressing the needs of industry and society within the spectrum of the marine and maritime sectors. It has ten Research and Innovation Centres that are involved in marine observation, marine robotics, maritime digitalisation, maritime engineering, marine and coastal ecosystems, the maritime human element, marine cultural heritage, marine and maritime policies and regional cooperation and underwater and seabed technologies.
The CMMI - Maritec-x project with the establishment of CMMI seeks to accomplish the following objectives:
- Achieve scientific excellence
- Establish state-of-the-art research and technology development facilities
- Build a strong network of experts
- Bridge the gap between research and industry
- Training and support for entrepreneurship
- Increase the research and industrial funding secured by Cyprus
- Create a critical mass of entrepreneurial and innovation-driven RTDI activities
- Increase the social engagement of scientists and entrepreneurs
- Act as a catalyst for establishing innovation-driven policies
During the third period, in regards to Human Resources, CMMI continued its extensive recruitment campaigns, hiring 26 new members of staff over the reporting period. Currently, CMMI employs 45 people from which the 41% are women.
Advances in the construction of the CMMI premises have been achieved event that we had a 3-year delays with the granting of the permits. The building permit application is expected to be issued by the Municipality of Larnaka in October. The Municipality of Larnaka in collaboration with the design firm and CMMI has started to prepare the tender specifications for the construction of the premises which are expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024.
A new development in regard to infrastructure is the agreement signed with the Community of Voroklini for the right-to-use unoccupied hangars of 2600 square meters plot which will host new premises that will be used by CMMI’s Research Centres for their scientific activities.
CMMI also focused on mobilizing the funds from the Letters of Commitment and received commitments corresponding to 11% of the value planned for the reporting period. CMMI now operated its new process to regularly liaise with contributors and plan, manage, coordinate, and follow up on the provision of complementary funding being able to perform an ‘audit’ of the commitments.
The CMMI’s Strategic Plan for the period 2021-2024 has been prepared and approved by the BoD of CMMI during the 6th BoD meeting. Each Unit and Centre has prepared its own sector plan for the period 2021-2024 that are aligned with the overall strategic plan of CMMI. The development of the Strategic Plan of CMMI led to the designation of twelve strategic elements, with the reassessment of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and consideration of additional KPIs.
Further advances have been made regarding the quality assurance and evaluation process of CMMI. The Quality Assurance Committee performed the first and second internal QA Reviews while the first External QA Evaluation was also completed. CMMI has developed a consolidated Action Plan consisting of the actions agreed arising from Internal and External QA Evaluation reports and EC Review reports recommendations. The consolidated Action Plan is designed to facilitate tracking, grouping and categorising of these recommendations with clear actions to be undertaken by the Units/ Centres with timeframe and responsibilities.
CMMI centres have been very active in publishing scientific papers in reputable journals. CMMI researchers published 11 scientific articles while one researcher was an editor in an open access book. Further, CMMI has continue its effort in proposals for funding by submitting 81 R&I proposals while 15 new projects has been approved for funding.
Big efforts have been given to diversify the sources of funding and attract additional research, innovation, commercial and direct assignment funding. The efforts resulted in €4,792,574.73 of funding secured and € 508,205.50 of funding standing at GA preparation stage.
CMMI has continued building its own network of partners and clients, the Blue Web and is expanding it with additional signatures of MoU as well as new collaborations. 17 new MoU’s were signed, reaching 50 in total, with the aim to engage in proposals, projects and joint dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities.
Advances in the construction of the CMMI premises have been achieved event that we had a 3-year delays with the granting of the permits. The building permit application is expected to be issued by the Municipality of Larnaka in October. The Municipality of Larnaka in collaboration with the design firm and CMMI has started to prepare the tender specifications for the construction of the premises which are expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024.
A new development in regard to infrastructure is the agreement signed with the Community of Voroklini for the right-to-use unoccupied hangars of 2600 square meters plot which will host new premises that will be used by CMMI’s Research Centres for their scientific activities.
CMMI also focused on mobilizing the funds from the Letters of Commitment and received commitments corresponding to 11% of the value planned for the reporting period. CMMI now operated its new process to regularly liaise with contributors and plan, manage, coordinate, and follow up on the provision of complementary funding being able to perform an ‘audit’ of the commitments.
The CMMI’s Strategic Plan for the period 2021-2024 has been prepared and approved by the BoD of CMMI during the 6th BoD meeting. Each Unit and Centre has prepared its own sector plan for the period 2021-2024 that are aligned with the overall strategic plan of CMMI. The development of the Strategic Plan of CMMI led to the designation of twelve strategic elements, with the reassessment of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and consideration of additional KPIs.
Further advances have been made regarding the quality assurance and evaluation process of CMMI. The Quality Assurance Committee performed the first and second internal QA Reviews while the first External QA Evaluation was also completed. CMMI has developed a consolidated Action Plan consisting of the actions agreed arising from Internal and External QA Evaluation reports and EC Review reports recommendations. The consolidated Action Plan is designed to facilitate tracking, grouping and categorising of these recommendations with clear actions to be undertaken by the Units/ Centres with timeframe and responsibilities.
CMMI centres have been very active in publishing scientific papers in reputable journals. CMMI researchers published 11 scientific articles while one researcher was an editor in an open access book. Further, CMMI has continue its effort in proposals for funding by submitting 81 R&I proposals while 15 new projects has been approved for funding.
Big efforts have been given to diversify the sources of funding and attract additional research, innovation, commercial and direct assignment funding. The efforts resulted in €4,792,574.73 of funding secured and € 508,205.50 of funding standing at GA preparation stage.
CMMI has continued building its own network of partners and clients, the Blue Web and is expanding it with additional signatures of MoU as well as new collaborations. 17 new MoU’s were signed, reaching 50 in total, with the aim to engage in proposals, projects and joint dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities.
The CMMI-MaRITeC-X project addresses the global challenges faced by the industry, and society, by transforming them into concrete, measurable, and achievable missions.
Benefits of the CMMI for Cyprus and beyond
- Constant flow of knowledge into society and the real economy
- Attracting foreign investments in marine and maritime technology-related activities
- Attracting national, European, and international funding for research and technology development
- Strengthening the competitiveness of the marine and maritime sectors throughout the whole value chain
- Promoting closer cooperation between the industry and academia
- Development of the maritime education, training and research and technology development landscape in Cyprus
- Creation of an innovation ecosystem focused on the blue economy
- Support blue entrepreneurship, the creation of new companies, and the expansion of SMEs
- Employment and economic growth
- International visibility
- Creation of a fertile ground of equal opportunities for European and international researchers, academics, and professionals
- Jobs creation for European and international researchers, scientists, and professionals
- Strengthened cooperation and synergies between the marine and maritime industry and the academia worldwide
- Affordable access to technology and innovation for the global marine and maritime industry
- Boosting the competitiveness of SMEs active in the blue economy
- Creation of a regional innovation hub acting as an entry point for the EU and the MENA (Middle East, North Africa) region
- Creation of a regional and international maritime technology cluster to enhance innovation and the development of practical solutions to industrial and societal problems
Benefits of the CMMI for Cyprus and beyond
- Constant flow of knowledge into society and the real economy
- Attracting foreign investments in marine and maritime technology-related activities
- Attracting national, European, and international funding for research and technology development
- Strengthening the competitiveness of the marine and maritime sectors throughout the whole value chain
- Promoting closer cooperation between the industry and academia
- Development of the maritime education, training and research and technology development landscape in Cyprus
- Creation of an innovation ecosystem focused on the blue economy
- Support blue entrepreneurship, the creation of new companies, and the expansion of SMEs
- Employment and economic growth
- International visibility
- Creation of a fertile ground of equal opportunities for European and international researchers, academics, and professionals
- Jobs creation for European and international researchers, scientists, and professionals
- Strengthened cooperation and synergies between the marine and maritime industry and the academia worldwide
- Affordable access to technology and innovation for the global marine and maritime industry
- Boosting the competitiveness of SMEs active in the blue economy
- Creation of a regional innovation hub acting as an entry point for the EU and the MENA (Middle East, North Africa) region
- Creation of a regional and international maritime technology cluster to enhance innovation and the development of practical solutions to industrial and societal problems