10.7.2012

New winds blowing development in the maritime industry

Above : It’s easy to think innovatively on a Fatboy bean bag enthuse Mervi Pitkänen (left), Elisa Pyrhönen, Heini Salovuori, Marianne Leistén ja Juha Valtanen.

A new marine technology research group began work in DataCity in June. Meridiem aims to develop maritime-related business development through new innovations. 

– The initiative for strengthening research in this business area came from the City of Turku and from local businesses. We will set out to establish links between universities and business life. We aim to create new operating models and, through cooperation with the maritime business cluster, long-term competitiveness and innovation. Our purpose is to ensure that Southwest Finland produces high-quality international research, which attracts high-level international knowledge and know-how to the region, envisions Mervi Pitkänen, Programme Director.

The team, in its present form, includes representatives and researchers from the University of Turku, Aalto University, Lappeenranta University, Turku University of Applied Sciences as well as students doing their thesis about and for companies in the maritime industry. Our operations are based on the needs of businesses, and, as such, companies can also involve themselves in research and development activities, or participate in project preparation and other areas of operations management. At present, a broad range of firms of all sizes, from the Turku area are involved

Interactivity and user orientation as a guiding principle

Shipbuilding has traditionally been a slow industry to change, and many cruise ships have travelled between ports for decades in almost original shape. The current consumer, however, expects sensations, experiences and learning new things rather than cruise routines and obsolete design.

– By designing a ship's cabin and other modules so that they can be refitted according to the changing of the passengers onboard, a completely new kind of customisation for distinct types of customer needs is enabled, for example, young adults, seniors, or specific cultural groups can be specifically catered for. This kind of re-thinking could fundamentally change operating practices and increase orders and efficiency, believe Elisa Pyrhönen and Heini Salovuori who are doing their thesis work for businesses in the Marine Technology Research Group.

The Marine Technology Research Group has already aroused great interest within both universities and businesses. Mervi Pitkänen expects the pace of interest to accelerate in the autumn when programme preparations reach full steam.

– The feedback and reception we’ve had so far has been fantastic. We seek to create radical innovations with our own best practices, and together with the city's universities we will make contracts that offer research work on long-term conditions.

Related topics

• Maritime Cluster Programme