IROE PhD candidate Cedric Muscat joins SMMI delegation in Cyprus as CMMI–SMMI partnership enters new phase

IROE PhD researcher Cedric Muscat joined a multidisciplinary Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (SMMI) delegation in Larnaka, Cyprus, for a programme of research exchange culminating in the CMMI MaRITeC-X Teaming Project Legacy Celebration and the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between SMMI and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI).

The visit marked an important milestone in the longstanding collaboration between the University of Southampton and CMMI. The EU-funded CMMI–MaRITeC-X project , established under the Horizon 2020 Teaming programme, supported the development of CMMI as a Centre of Excellence for marine and maritime research, innovation and technology development in Cyprus. SMMI has been one of the project's advanced partners throughout its seven-year development.

The Southampton delegation included Professor Fraser Sturt (Director of SMMI), Professor Dave White (Professor of Infrastructure Geotechnics), Professor Damon Teagle (Professor of Geochemistry and former Director of SMMI), Professor Clive Trueman (Professor of Geochemical Ecology), Professor Dominic Hudson (Shell Professor of Ship Safety and Efficiency), Capt. Dr Seyedvahid Vakili (Senior Research Fellow), Dr Katherine Theobald (Research fellow in Aerial Transport Autonomy), Dr Felix Pedrotti (Maritime Archaeologist and Senior Research Assistant) and Cedric Muscat (IROE PhD researcher in Offshore Renewable Energy).

During the visit, researchers from Southampton and CMMI took part in workshops and research exchanges spanning ocean science, maritime engineering and emerging marine technologies. Professors Clive Trueman and Damon Teagle also hosted a workshop drawing on their expertise in geochemical ecology and marine geochemistry, exploring how chemical and isotopic approaches can support understanding of marine organisms and ocean environments.

On Wednesday 9 September, CMMI hosted the CMMI × SMMI Seminar: Towards a Sustainable Maritime Future at CMMI House in Larnaka. Capt. Dr Seyedvahid Vakili presented “Net-Zero by 2050: What the IMO's Net-Zero Framework Means for Your Fleet”, examining the maritime sector's transition towards lower-emission operations.

The visit culminated on Thursday 10 September with the CMMI MaRITeC-X Teaming Project Legacy Celebration – “From Vision to Impact: Seven Years of MaRITeC-X and CMMI” at the Radisson Beach Resort in Larnaka. The event brought together representatives from government, the European Commission, academia and industry to celebrate seven years of MaRITeC-X and discuss the future of marine and maritime innovation in Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean.

Professor Damon Teagle represented Southampton in the panel discussion “From Building Excellence to Creating Impact: Partnerships for the Future of the Blue Economy”, which explored how research partnerships can support scientific, economic and societal impact.

The event also featured an interactive research showcase, providing researchers with an opportunity to present their work and engage with stakeholders. Cedric Muscat showcased IROE research in marine renewable energy and offshore wind, discussing current research and future marine-energy challenges with participants from academia, industry and the wider Blue Economy. Dr Felix Pedrotti shared insights from Southampton's maritime archaeology research, while Dr Katherine Theobald presented work relating to drone and autonomous technologies.

A central moment of the celebration was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between CMMI and SMMI by Professor Fraser Sturt, Director of SMMI, and Zacharias Siokouros , CEO of CMMI. The agreement marks a new phase of collaboration between the two institutes beyond the conclusion of the seven-year MaRITeC-X project.

Coinciding with the celebration, CMMI also published From Teaming to Lasting Excellence: Lessons Learned and Recommendations from Building the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, reflecting on seven years of institution-building and the transition from a Teaming project towards a long-term research institution.

This was Cedric Muscat’s third visit to CMMI, following his participation in Thalassa 2024 and his return to Cyprus earlier this year as part of an SMMI delegation contributing to activities surrounding the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Cedric reflected on the value of returning to CMMI and seeing the partnership develop over time:

“Each visit has been a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with academics, industry and policymakers, while seeing first-hand how the CMMI–SMMI partnership has grown and supported the establishment of this remarkable institution.”

He added that the collaboration demonstrates how sustained international partnerships, knowledge exchange and institutional support can help establish lasting research capability and could provide a useful model for similar Centres of Excellence in the future.