On the 3rd April, CMMI has celebrated four years since its establishment – an important milestone for Cyprus and especially for Larnaka and we will explain why!
According to Sylvia Earle – No water, no life. No blue, no green.
Experiencing the triple crisis of climate, biodiversity and pollution at a time when the planet must radically change long established habits and practices and seek sustainable solutions, ocean monitoring is of imperative importance and the development of ocean science even further. The same applies when it comes to the search for innovative ideas and solutions that constitute more than ever the basis (and condition) of sustainable development.
The Ocean is not only considered as being the lungs of our planet but it is also the largest recipient of greenhouse gases having a significant contribution to mitigating the phenomenon of global warming.
Cyprus – an island country surrounded by sea which has particular problems and finds itself in the epicenter of the impact triggered by climate change, but also an important crossroad for trade and population movement.
The insular character of Cyprus and its dependence to a very large extent on the sea, always had a significant impact on its entire history but also on its inhabitants, both as far as the way of living and working is concerned, but also on their idiosyncrasy.
The strong connection of Cypriots with the sea throughout the years has been demonstrated through historical evidence. With the sea remaining a source of life, growth and prosperity through activities such as fishing, coastal tourism for rest and recreation, seafaring, shipping, and maritime transport.
Cyprus is the third largest shipping power in the EU and the 11th worldwide. It is also the largest ship management centre. Shipping currently amounts to 7% of the country’s GDP, offers work to more than 9000 compatriots and employs even more sailors from all over the world on Cypriot-flagged ships.
Even though Cyprus today claims a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone that is 10 times larger than its actual area, for various reasons, also historical ones, Cyprus doesn’t have the characteristics of an island, and the Cypriots those of islanders.
This situation unfortunately had an impact on the programmes run by Cypriot Universities and most research organisations, depriving them of the opportunities to be involved in major research programmes but also shape executives, much needed by the industry. Therefore, for all the above reasons we believe that CMMI’s establishment came to fill this gap that has been identified by so many people in recent years.
On the 2nd April 2019 after almost 3 years of hard work that had commenced beginning of 2016, and after 3 series of evaluations by the EU, the tender results were announced that would have ensured the initial funding of a new institute in Cyprus named CMMI – Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute.
Larnaka and Cyprus have been successful in the context of the Teaming programme. The proposal for the creation of such an institute had been ranked amongst the top on a pan-European level, co-financed by the European Commission and the Cypriot Government. It had been the result of a proposal from 5 Cypriot organisations, together with 3 more organisations, one from the United Kingdom and two from Ireland..
The Cypriot team is comprised of the Municipality of Larnaka, who is the coordinator, the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SignalGenerix from Limassol which is active in the field of sensors, communications and digitalisation in general, Geoimaging from Nicosia, which is active in earth observation, and MarInEM, another research organisation active in the field of shipping since 2010.
Our UK partner is the renowned University of Southampton, widely known for its engagement in marine research and education, also through the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute. Our Irish partner is the state-owned Marine Institute, that tackles almost everything that has to do with the Sea; and Blue Wise Marine that is active in the sector that deals with marine technologies, with renewable energy resources generated by the Sea.
A day later, on the 3rd April 2019, the new company entitled CMMI – Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute was officially registered with the Registrar of Companies in order to be able to participate as the 9th partner in the corporate structure.
However, to be able to operate, the company had to set up structures and hire the appropriate personnel. On the 16th July 2019, the Municipality of Larnaka, that was at the time the only member of the new company, had appointed the first Board of Directors, consisting of 23 members of high caliber, who, based on the company’s statute, derived amongst the partners of the proposal, the industry, the public sector and the academic community.
The initial funding was officially received in October 2019 and a vacancy notice for the position of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was published. CMMI’s first CEO, who had been chosen by the Board of Directors, assumed his duties towards the end of 2019. In turn, a few months later he initiated all the relevant procedures as far as the recruitment of the rest of the personnel is concerned. However, due to the pandemic, the very first personnel had assumed duties in September 2020, amounting today to 44 people who are expected to become 50 soon.
Despite the difficulties created by the pandemic, and while the first recruitments were under way, the Institute’s structure as well as its strategic plan had been carefully drafted and approved by the Board of Directors together with its first three flagship infrastructure projects.
Particular importance was given to ensure that the CMMI’s objectives and structure could facilitate the conduct of mainly applied research that meets the needs both of the industry and of the current socio-political requirements of shipping and the sea.
Today the CMMI is comprised of 9 research centers covering the areas of: marine technology and decarbonisation, marine robotics, maritime digitalisation, marine observation and data collection, marine and coastal ecosystems, marine cultural heritage, maritime human element but also that of marine and maritime policy and regional cooperation.
The industry and the wider Cypriot ecosystem constituted a great driving force that allowed us to build the so-called CMMI Blue Web; the large network of companies and organisations we collaborate with.
In parallel the CMMI, since the beginning of 2021, had taken over the administrative support of The Cyprus Foundation of the Sea (CYFOS), a unique organisational cluster for the Sea based in Limassol.
Moreover, we continue with the submission of additional proposals, and we implement the internal funded programmes for our research infrastructure, underwater laboratories with 3D printed artificial reefs, data collection systems from the sea, the design and construction of the first zero-emission vessel, acquisition of marine and submarine robotic systems and much more.
At the same time, to fill-in the gap as far as skills are concerned of the so-called Blue Economy, we managed to secure CMMI’s certification as Professional Training Centre by the Cyprus Human Resource Development Authority, as well as the creation of its initial programmes, with the prospect of much more to follow.
In addition, following the encouragement and continuous support of the Mayor of Larnaka and the City Council, we are moving forward together towards the creation of the School of Marine Sciences and Technology, which we will host in the premises planned for CMMI at Mackenzie.
The first objective is the provision of postgraduate programmes and eventually the provision of undergraduate programmes in areas which the CMMI has the relevant expertise and are also much needed by the industry.
In the meantime, to promote Marine Literacy and through the programme “Our Sea”, we collaborate with schools, the Pancyprian Organisation of Greek Teachers, and the Pedagogical Institute, as well as many other organisations.
Some of the other important collaborations and activities involve:
The Cyprus Ports Authority, the Community Council of Pervolia and the Larnaka Tourism Development and Promotion Company in order to transform the Lighthouse located in Pervolia into a Marine Knowledge Lighthouse especially for the use of schools;
The Larnaka Municipality and the Larnaka District Development Agency in order to create a Blue Career Guidance Office, located in Piale Pasia street, dedicated to the sea professions but also the Maritime Tradition;
With various co-organisers we have been organising for the past two years activities in Larnaka in the framework of the European Maritime Day, while this year it has expanded and will also be celebrated in Agia Napa, Limassol and Paphos;
In the framework of EMD we have launched a competition for primary schools, in cooperation with our partners, and asked students to name a Natural Reef to engage their interest in the marine sector and to bring them closer to the sea;
Last year we organised our first summer school addressed to high school students entitled “Blue Youth Camp”. The second one will take place this coming July;
We visit schools or schools come to CMMI to learn more about Blue Career opportunities;
We also organise programmes addressed to undergraduate and postgraduate students entitled “Blue Schools”;
In collaboration with the British Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), we established the “Pyrgotelis Zoitos” International Award for naval architects under the age of 35.
One of our privileges is the close collaboration we have with the ministries and the departments of the Cypriot government and the academic community but especially our close relations with the industry, both in Cyprus and abroad. We have already signed 43 Memorandum of Understandings and we currently have over 600 partners from 42 different countries.
In brief, CMMI despite its young age and starting from scratch, has achieved a lot, especially after taking into consideration the fact that it is the only Centre of Excellence in Cyprus that was created without the support in its corporate structure of any established Cypriot academic institution.
The recognition CMMI has received from the local community but also from the independent organisation Thetius, which has recently ranked our Institute amongst the 20 most innovative institutions in the world together with well established centres with enormous potential, give us the strength to continue with even greater passion.
CMMI has now become an integral part of Cyprus and especially of Larnaka in an attempt to transform the city as promised and cited in the proposal with which the CMMI was financed.
Closing, our vision for CMMI 2030 is: we would like the Institute, being the Cyprus Centre of Excellence in Marine and Maritime Research and Innovation, to continue its course and achieve even more international success in research, maintaining at the same time the spirit and dynamism of a start-up business and create successful spin-offs that will further enrich the respective ecosystem and economy.
An Institute that will work closely with industry and support it scientifically when in need.
An institute that will contribute to the country’s know-how and infrastructure.
With infrastructures that will allow Cyprus to play the key role it deserves.
And finally, an Institute that will provide education and training in sectors where there is demand but also opportunities.
All this will take place in emblematic and environmentally friendly buildings that will attract scientists from all over the world but also Cypriot scientists, who are currently living and working abroad, back to Cyprus to perform high calibre re-search.
An institute that will contribute significantly to the transformation of society and to the configuration of a new approach to entrepreneurship and innovation.