Turku UAS is establishing a new research and expertise center to meet the needs of the maritime industry

The new Center for Maritime and Shipbuilding Technologies brings together Turku University of Applied Sciences’ research and education related to the maritime industry. The center strengthens Turku UAS’ role as a developer of maritime industry expertise and new technologies.

Turku University of Applied Sciences is establishing a Center for Maritime and Shipbuilding Technologies to serve companies in the maritime industry. The need for this was identified through a consulting study that surveyed companies in the maritime industry about their expertise needs, wishes, and future prospects. The center will begin operations later this year.

Finland’s maritime industry is a major export sector, but at the same time, technological transformation and growing demands for expertise are challenging companies to reinvent themselves. There are approximately 1,200 maritime industry companies operating in Finland; the sector employs more than 30,000 people and has an annual revenue of approximately 12 billion euros.  

− The maritime industry currently offers both tremendous opportunities and a need for new expertise. At Turku UAS, we have strong expertise in many fields that are central to the maritime industry. The center’s mission is to channel that expertise even more effectively to companies and the entire industry, says Vesa Taatila, Rector of Turku UAS. 

The Center for Marine and Shipbuilding Technologies brings together expertise in areas such as shipbuilding, marine technology, manufacturing technologies, automation, digitalization, and sustainable development. For companies, the center offers a clearer path to, for example, research and development collaboration, piloting new technologies, and developing expertise. 

When a company contacts us, the center can quickly assemble the necessary experts and propose a suitable solution. The company itself does not need to know which research group or expertise it needs; instead, the center identifies the experts and formulates a proposal on the company’s behalf. Ultimately, a multidisciplinary team is formed to address the issue.

− A key strength of Turku UAS is its ability to combine research in various fields of technology with industry-oriented education. The center creates new opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration between companies, research groups, and students, as well as for the development of new solutions, Taatila explains.

Turku UAS is home to several research groups whose work supports the development of the maritime industry. The center brings this expertise together and strengthens the link between research, practical development work, and education. The goal is also to strengthen collaboration with other universities and research institutions both in Finland and internationally. 

New educational program in 2027

In addition to the new center, Turku UAS is launching a new “Elements of the Sea” educational program. It has been designed to meet the skill needs identified by companies in the maritime industry.

The first courses in the program will begin in the fall of 2027, and students from other institutions of higher education and those training for careers in the maritime sector will also be able to enroll.

− Technology is advancing rapidly, and education must be able to meet the changing needs of the workforce. Elements of the Sea offers a flexible way to study maritime expertise even outside our own university, says Taatila. 

The Elements of the Sea educational program includes courses on topics such as the fundamentals of marine engineering and the environmental impacts of marine technology.