Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) have signed an MoU to work together on digital innovation projects across the maritime supply chain and logistics industries, as part of an initiative to be named ‘True North 72’.
The collaboration between the two parties aims to capitalise on both partners’ respective expertise to create an ecosystem supporting exploration of new ideas and the testing of potentially beneficial new technologies, as well as further commercialisation of successful products and services in areas of strategic interest.
“The industry has reached a turning point and the coming decade will be critical in defining the next generation of maritime trade and business,” said Yiannis Sykas, Director of Strategy and member of BSM’s management board.
“Through the ‘True North 72’ initiative and the partnership with CMMI, BSM is clearly demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation. This partnership embodies our company’s mission statement and values, enabling colleagues, clients, business partners and the communities we operate in to apply knowledge, experience and innovation to develop solutions to important industry challenges.”
CMMI is a non-profit research and technology development Centre of Excellence established in Larnaca in Cyprus earlier this year, supported by funds from the EU, the Government of Cyprus and other industry stakeholders.
“CMMI, as an R&I Centre of Excellence for the marine and maritime sectors, aspires to become a partner of choice for all relevant blue economy research, technology development and innovation activities at local, regional, European and global level,” said Zacharias Siokouros, CEO of CMMI.
“The Institute aims at promoting excellence in research and innovation, investing in creative capital, fostering education, training and entrepreneurship, and nurturing socio-economic and cultural transformation overall. Therefore, we are very excited to participate in ‘True North 72’ and partner with one of the world’s leading third-party ship managers.”
“This initiative is fully aligned with our key objective to address the needs of the maritime industry and society, and develop solutions that will contribute to sustainable Blue Growth.”
The name ‘True North 72’ is a reference to 1972, the year BSM first established a presence in Cyprus as one of the first foreign companies to register on the island.
