The main goal of the project MARBLE is to create a new “Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy” (CoE MARBLE) that will engage Croatia in a path of sustainable growth in blue economy in strategic partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the National Research Council (CNR, Italy).

MARBLE will enhance Croatian R&I excellence in four key research areas: (i) Maritime robotics and autonomous systems, (ii) Maritime green endurance, (iii) Maritime Internet-of-Things, and (iv) Maritime digital twins applied to four blue economy sectors aligned with the Croatian Smart Specialization Strategy: a) Maritime security and protection, b) Aquaculture and fisheries, c) Coastal tourism and smart marinas, and d) Maritime transportation.

CoE MARBLE will support deep industrial transformation of Croatian regional economies and reduce regional developmental disproportion between the City of Zagreb, and the Adriatic part of Croatia by engaging relevant quadruple helix actors of the Croatian blue economy ecosystem from both regions: UNIZG-FER (the coordinator); RBI, a representative of science end-users; MARINN, a cluster of maritime industry stakeholders; AFC, a hub of aquaculture stakeholders and end-users; and the MZO, a representative of policy makers.

Sustainability of CoE MARBLE is ensured through a set of strategic measures related to knowledge transfer, providing added value to the blue economy industry, ensuring access to competitive funding and successful positioning of research results in the market.

CoE MARBLE has already received strong support through commitment for complementary funding (15 MEUR for research infrastructure, 500 kEUR per year and building for office and lab space) and through 104 international letters of support from governmental organisations, industry (clusters, SMEs and large companies) and research organisations who have expressed their willingness to collaborate.