According to the agreement signed in Athens, DNV will sponsor NTUA to fund three PhD students in Marine Engineering, including the supervising work of professors and post doctoral researchers to materialise this new phase of the collaboration. The interaction with DNV’s R&D unit in Greece will further enhance the collaboration and align it with industry needs.

After a successful first phase of research collaboration (2008-2010), the intention is to continue merging the expertise of these two renowned organisations so that they can together develop further initiatives and achieve better results and more progress than they could have done individually.

The collaboration will continue to focus on the maritime industry and the university’s School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The optimisation of marine energy systems, optimal control of hybrid propulsion powertrains and dual-fuel marine engine optimisation are the three main topics selected for the 2011-2014 period.

Elisabeth Harstad, managing director of DNV Research & Innovation, explains: “DNV has focused on research and innovation for more than 50 years. Together with industry partners and educational institutions, this has introduced new technologies and new solutions. Through closer collaboration between Greece’s oldest and most prestigious educational institution in the field of technology and DNV, we aim to learn from each other and cooperate in the best interests of the industry.”

Similar to its collaboration with NTUA, DNV has cooperated for many years with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, the University of Ohio in the USA, and other educational establishments. In addition, in 2008 DNV established a research & development centre in Piraeus, Greece which develops and implements high-calibre solutions in the area of greener and more efficient maritime transportation.

“The National Technical University of Athens has one of the world’s leading naval architecture and marine engineering schools. The Greek shipping industry is also at the forefront when it comes to size and expertise. DNV is a trusted partner for the Greek shipping industry. I am convinced that all of us together will use research and innovation as a key to further success, and the new collaboration is pivotal for doing so,” says Dr Nikolaos Kakalis, Head of DNV Research & Innovation, Greece.