Ocean Technology Campus Rostock success story continues
The second funding phase begins, aiming to further expand Rostock as an international centre for underwater technology focusing on the sustainable use of the sea.
The Ocean Technology Campus Rostock, a regional innovation ecosystem and ‘Cluster4Future’ with international appeal, has received 15 million euros of funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to enter its second funding phase. With a total volume of 23 million euros, including 8 million provided by the partners, the cluster is aimed at helping to further expand Rostock as an international centre for underwater technology within the next three years. “As a beacon of marine technology research, the campus is an important component for the economic success of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock,” confirms Mayoress Eva-Maria Kröger.
With a focus on sustainable use of the sea, the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock has been developing as a centre for marine technology innovation since 2021. It has five thematic focus areas: Subsea Mobility & Autonomy, Digital Mission, Ocean Lense, Sustainable Ocean Use, and Ocean Open Innovation. Its goals include promoting research and training in these fields, realising new product ideas, and turning them into market-ready solutions by creating optimum conditions for innovation in marine technology.
Photo: Lilo Heyn/Ocean Technology Campus Rostock
The future cluster Ocean Technology Campus Rostock envisions itself as a regional innovation ecosystem with an international appeal. Emerging from the ‘Clusters4Future’ competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). 20 partners from the first phase, including the University of Rostock, a partner of the EU-CONEXUS alliance, have recently been joined by 13 new partners and innovative projects, working together to strengthen the campus and advance the maritime high-tech sector. In addition to the University of Rostock, various large research institutions including the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, as well as many small and medium-sized companies, public authorities, and organisations are involved. The campus is located in Rostock’s’ fishing harbour, which features a growing infrastructure. A large number of the smaller partners and start-ups in particular have also established their headquarters here.
Cluster spokesperson Uwe Freiherr von Lukas, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer competence network ‘OceanTechnologies@Fraunhofer’ and Site Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, adds: “The campus supports the existing players at the location in their further development, promotes talent, and offers a wide range of career opportunities. It stimulates the founding of start-ups and increases the attractiveness of the location for similar companies and research institutions. Today’s launch of the second phase of the future cluster is impressive proof that we are on the right track.”
In addition to technology development, the recruitment of skilled specialists is one of the key topics that the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock focuses on. For example, the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has developed and is providing support for vocational training and further education programmes in collaboration with the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It also coordinates school workshops on marine measurement technology and inventor camps aimed specifically at schoolgirls. “These are just some of the measures with which the future cluster aims to promote talent and help attract urgently needed skilled labour to Rostock. Another crucial element to this is our commitment to a conscious gender equality strategy, which applies to all cluster activities. After all, increasing the proportion of women in the previously male-dominated world of technology is still an important issue,” explains Regine Labrenz from the IOW. She coordinates the ‘Ocean Open Innovation’ cluster area, which focuses on talent development and further training.
More information about the Ocean Technology Campus and a full list of partners can be found on their website: oceantechnologycampus.com.
