Photo: @BlueNetCat
On 18 November, Prof. Pere Ridao, Full Professor at the University of Girona and leading researcher at the Underwater Robotics Research Center (CIRS), took part in a key panel discussion at Maritime Hub 2025 in Barcelona. This landmark event, spearheaded by BlueNetCat and the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, brought together top experts in maritime and marine innovation.
Prof. Ridao joined a roundtable moderated by Miquel de la Mano (Fundación BCN Port Innovation), alongside:
- Francesc Xavier Ferraro (COO of SEABOTS)
- Jordi Isern (Head of Operational Oceanography, ICATMAR)
- Vicenç Parisi (Coordinator, SARTI-UPC)
- Emma Cobos (Director of Innovation and Business Strategy, Port of Barcelona)
- Loubna Benabbou (Professor, University of Quebec at Rimouski)
The discussion focused on the market demands in marine robotics, addressing challenges in deployment, the need for robust telecommunications, and the current technological landscape. Key topics included the purpose of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), the types of data required for decision-making, and the necessary resolution levels.
Prof. Ridao brought deep insight into the operational constraints of underwater vehicles and emphasized the importance of shared autonomy and mission adaptability in complex marine environments. He also underscored the need for streamlined collaboration between public institutions, academia, and private companies, especially in Spain and Catalonia, where transversal governance in the blue economy remains limited.
BlueNetCat, the Blue Network for Catalonia, is a strategic alliance of research groups and institutions aimed at driving sustainable innovation in the marine and maritime sectors. It promotes cross-sector collaboration to foster smart, resilient solutions for the blue economy.
Read more about Maritime Hub 2025 here:  https://www.bluenetcat.eu/en/maritime-hub-2025/
