A strategic research and development collaboration agreement has been signed between DNV and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). This agreement will then be followed up by DNV establishing a research and innovation hub in Athens / Pireaus early next year.
The intention is to merge the expertise of two renowned organisations so that they can together develop new initiatives and achieve better results and more progress than could have been done separately.
The collaboration will focus mainly on the maritime industry and the university’s School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Ship design optimisation and effective bulk transportation are the two main topics initially selected.
Elisabeth Harstad, managing director of DNV Research & Innovation, explains: “DNV has focused on research and innovation for more than 50 years. Together with industry partners and educational institutions, this has introduced new technology and new solutions. Through closer cooperation between Greece’s oldest and most prestigious educational institution in the field of technology and DNV, we aim to learn from each other and cooperate in the best interests of the industry.”
DNV has for years cooperated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, M.I.T, Stanford University in USA and others. Earlier this year, DNV launched a research centre in close cooperation with Ohio State University, USA in the field of corrosion. In addition to the above and the agreement that was signed in Athens last Friday, DNV is evaluating closer collaboration, new research agreements and new research hubs in the DNV’s strategic growth areas.
According to the agreement to be signed in Athens today, DNV will donate an annual sum of money to NTUA. A number of doctoral students, post doctoral students and professors will be involved in developing this new collaboration. At this stage and for the first three years, NTUA’s two laboratories, Ship Design and Maritime Transport, will have a central position in the programme.
“We all know that the National Technical University of Athens is among the very best maritime institutions globally. At the same time, the Greek shipping industry is at the forefront when it comes to size as well as expertise. DNV has been and continues to be a close partner for the Greek shipping industry. I am convinced that all of us together will use research and innovation as a key to further success. The new collaboration and the upcoming hub is a tool for doing so,” says Ioannis Kourmatzis, regional manager of DNV Maritime Southern Europe.
