On March 13th, 2025, our MariTech Talent Program hosted a dynamic event at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), uniting maritime professionals, startups, and industry stakeholders to address sector challenges and explore digital and green transformation opportunities.
The event featured insightful presentations and a hands-on intrapreneurship workshop, fostering collaboration between maritime experts and startups. Participants tackled country-specific challenges, industry barriers, and innovative solutions for a more sustainable and tech-driven maritime future.
Organized by our team Athena Research Center, led by Prof. Dr. Phoebe Koundouri as Principal Investigator, alongside members Lydia Papadaki and Panagiota Koltsida, the event showcased the EU-funded MariTech Talent program, addressing challenges like cybersecurity, alternative fuels, and sustainability.
The MariTech Talent program, a European initiative designed to equip maritime professionals with essential green and digital skills, was at the heart of the event. Funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 101135888), the initiative aims to address industry-specific needs while ensuring a human-centered and ethical approach to digital and industrial technology development.The program focuses on three key challenges—cybersecurity and other threats, fuels and technology, and sustainability and innovation—identified as critical pain points in the maritime sector.
Through various workshops, delivered by Alexandros Charalambides of the Cyprus University of Technology and Stelios Procopiou of Chrysalis LEAP, participants explored real-world barriers, tested assumptions, and worked together toward a more sustainable and tech-driven maritime sector. Solutions focuses on three major challenges:
Cybersecurity & Threats – Keeping maritime operations safe in a digital world.
Fuels & Technology – Exploring alternative fuels and innovative tech.
Sustainability & Innovation – Finding solutions for a cleaner, more efficient industry.
In addition to the workshops, the following startups were able to present their solutions to the stakeholders:
MALLOC – Cybersecurity & data protection
AC Biode – Advanced battery & waste solutions
Sea the Change – Sustainable maritime initiatives
Participating Maritime Sector Representatives and relevant Industry Stakeholders:
- DP World
- EMBIO Diagnostics
- Eurogate
- Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company
- Marine Antipollution Enterprise
- Department of Ports Management & Shipping (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
On Wednesday 12th of March 2205, the MariTech Consortium also participated in the 14th GREEN4SEA Athens Forum that was held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, engaging in insightful discussions on sustainable maritime practices and networking with key players in the industry. Following the event, consortium members gathered for a dinner at Tzitzikas and Mermigkas, enjoying traditional Greek cuisine while continuing their conversations on digital and green transformation in the sector
For more information on the MariTech Talent program, visit and follow our page on Facebook.
