Oceanology International 2026 (Oi26), held from March 10 to 12 at the ExCeL London, was the largest edition in the event’s 57-year history, drawing over 8,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors from more than 80 countries. The conference and exhibition served as a global nexus for marine science and ocean technology, featuring a heavy emphasis on the “Blue Economy,” maritime autonomy, and environmental monitoring.

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Held on March 11, the workshop brought together researchers from both institutions to present and discuss the MORE framework, which seeks to address a key challenge in maritime robotics: the fragmentation of systems and intelligence across platforms and organizations. The initiative focuses on developing a unified, modular, and vendor-agnostic architecture enabling interoperable multi-vehicle operations and seamless integration from simulation to real-world deployment.

The agenda included a series of technical sessions covering vehicle systems, sensor modelling, perception and dataset generation, mission planning, and simulation-based training, including a demonstration of MARUS-based ROV pilot simulation. The workshop concluded with a joint discussion session, fostering exchange of ideas and identifying future collaboration opportunities .

Beyond the workshop itself, the visit provided the MARBLE team with valuable insight into NTNU AURLab’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, experimental facilities, and operational best practices. As one of Europe’s leading research environments in marine robotics, NTNU offered a strong benchmark for advancing MARBLE’s own capabilities in digital twins, autonomous systems, and integrated maritime operations.

The visit further strengthened the partnership between MARBLE and NTNU, laying the groundwork for continued collaboration in research, innovation, and joint project development within the rapidly evolving field of maritime robotics.

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This one-day event brings together leading experts from Croatia, Europe, and Africa who actively contribute to research results aimed at the development of innovations, new technologies, and the international market. Symposium participants will explore the ways in which scientific centers of excellence can lead the charge in knowledge transfer, the commercialization of scientific results, and industry collaboration.

Following the lecture on the importance of intellectual property in the final session of the gathering, Dr. Danica Ramljak will moderate a particularly engaging panel discussion on public-private cooperation in research and innovation development.

The panel will feature the extensive expertise of Gordana Kovačević, one of the most successful business leaders in recent Croatian history, former President of the Board of the renowned technology company Ericsson Nikola Tesla and President of the Economic Council of the University of Zagreb, alongside our Director Prof. Nikola Mišković, as well as Mateo Ivanac from DIH InnovaMare.

More details available here (in Croatian): STIM REI 2.0

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Beyond administrative review, the session served as a strategic platform for partners to align objectives, exchange high-level technical insights, and deepen the collaborative ties essential for pioneering maritime robotics. The afternoon session was dedicated to the CoE MARBLE Supervisory Board meeting. This gathering allowed board members to transition from operational updates to strategic governance, ensuring that the project’s overarching vision remains aligned with its technical milestones and resource management.

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Establishment of “WideMARBLE-Lab” with INM-CNR

CoE MARBLE and the National Research Council of Italy Institute of Marine Engineering of the (CNR-INM) have signed a Research Collaboration Agreement to create WideMARBLE-Lab. This joint laboratory will bridge facilities in Zagreb and Genoa to pioneer research in biomimetic robotics, AI-enhanced perception, and shallow-water autonomous systems.

Strategic R&D Alliance with Naval Group

A Partnership Cooperation Agreement has been established with Naval Group, the European leader in naval defense. The collaboration focuses on high-impact R&D topics, including AI-enhanced navigation for USVs in GNSS-denied environments, machine learning for object identification in harsh underwater conditions, and low-cost environmental monitoring systems.

Innovation Partnership with SeaCras

The Memorandum of Understanding with SeaCras d.o.o. establishes a framework for joint ventures and product development. This partnership aims to accelerate the commercialization of marine technologies and explore new service-based solutions for the global maritime market.

These initiatives are led by Nikola Mišković, Director of CoE MARBLE, in coordination with Massimo Caccia (CNR-INM), Marie-Laure Bourgeois (Naval Group), and Mario Špadina (SeaCras).

Photo credit: © Ambassade de France en Croatie (French Embassy in Croatia)

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The core theme of the debate was the transformation of this former symbol of technological prowess into a modern research hub. Nikola Mišković emphasized that the CoE MARBLE project brings more than just cutting-edge equipment; it brings the necessary momentum to breathe new life into the Brodarski institut premises.

“It is an exceptional honor to plan the future in a place built by generations of world-class experts. Through MARBLE, we aim to advance the field of maritime robotics and ensure this space remains a center of excellence, utilizing historical infrastructure in the most innovative way possible,” Nikola Mišković stated during the panel.

The roundtable concluded with a message of continuity. Although Brodarski institut is in a legal transition, projects like MARBLE guarantee that the wealth of knowledge accumulated over decades will not be lost. Instead, it will serve as the foundation for new innovations in the sustainable blue economy.

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Date and time: Wednesday, February 18, 2026; 6:30 PM

Location: Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla

More details available here (in Croatian): TMNT Roundtable

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As a co-organizer of the event, CoE MARBLE was proud to take center stage in the scientific program. Our very own Barbara Arbanas Ferreira, PhD, Head of Research and recent winner of the Danubius Young Scientist Award 2025, delivered an inspiring invited lecture titled “Cooperative Heterogeneous Robotic Systems for Autonomous Operations in Maritime Environments.”

The conference also featured a lecture by Prof. Lea Skorin-Kapov on immersive XR technologies and a vital round-table discussion on institutional support for female researchers’ careers. For CoE MARBLE, this event underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive research environment promoting institutional support for women in science.

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The session was part of the “PIR – promatraj, istražuj, rasti” (Observe, Explore, Grow) project. Organized by the City Red Cross Society of Vrbovec and funded by the European Union, the project aims to bring cutting-edge science and technology closer to youth.

The training focused on the application of unmanned systems, with a specific emphasis on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Over the course of the four-hour session, participants learned how to integrate these technologies into educational environments, ensuring that local students stay at the forefront of digital literacy and engineering.

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