Following the successful series of previous EMRA workshops, including CNR-Rome 2014, IST-Lisbon 2015, NCL-Newcastle 2016, VICOROB-Girona 2017, UL-Limerick 2018, IFREMER-Toulon 2019, Univ. Pisa-online 2021, and NOC-Southampton 2022, the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (UNIZG-FER), in collaboration with IN2 and DIH AgriFood Croatia, hosted and co-organized the Workshop on EU-funded Marine Robotics and Applications (EMRA) 2023 on June 20th and 21st in Šibenik, Croatia. This highly anticipated event brought together over 90 leading experts, researchers, and professionals in the field of marine robotics and applications. The conference featured a single-track program over two days with 25 speakers, providing ample time for discussions and networking. Presentations from ongoing EU-funded research projects were mixed with presentations from industry and policymakers.
The workshop received support from various initiatives, including Interreg ADRION MARBLE – Joint Master on Maritime Robotics in Blue Economy, the Horizon Europe ERA Chair UWIN-LABUST projects, Horizon Europe MONUSEN – Montenegrin Centre for Underwater Sensor Networks and SeaTecHub, and Interreg Italy-Croatia InnovaMare.
The UL CRIS team presented the Horizon EU project RESURGAM – Robotic Survey, Repair, and Agile Manufacture, aimed at introducing high-productivity Friction Stir Welding of steel to European shipyards. The proceedings of EMRA 2023 can be accessed here.
EMRA 2023 also featured two pivotal roundtable discussions: “Discussion on Widening Projects – Roundtable on WIDERA Projects Challenges” and “Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Blue Economy Growth.” These discussions addressed pressing challenges and EU-centered opportunities in the field of marine robotics and the blue economy. This year, EMRA saw a strong presence of policymakers, including Adeline Kroll from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Development (DG R&D), Mislav Kovač from the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, and Mateo Ante Bosnić from the Ministry of Science and Education.
The next EMRA will be held in Genova and hosted by CNR.
