OCEAN TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS ROSTOCK TIDINGSIssue No. 23 | July 2026
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Dear Readers,
in the middle of summer we're sending you our final message in a bottle before the weather turns cooler again and the holiday season draws to a close. As Subsea Monitoring Network e.V. is going to be renamed OceanTec Rostock e.V. soon, contact cluster management by using the following mail addresses from now on: m.graeff@oceantec-rostock.org, f.schmacka@oceantec-rostock.org, j.hasse@oceantec-rostock.org and u.hermes@oceantec-rostock.org.
Enjoy reading, your cluster office.
Events & Presence
The future of our oceans begins here: The Ocean Convention 2026 brings together experts, businesses, academia and policymakers to jointly develop solutions for the protection and sustainable use of our oceans.
When: November 3 and 4, 2026
Where: Rotunde at HanseMesse Rostock
Topics: Sustainability, maritime innovations, climate protection, research & technology
What you can expect:
The Ocean Convention is the ideal platform for exchanging knowledge, gaining new perspectives and taking away concrete ideas for a sustainable future for our oceans.
Members of the Ocean Technology Campus can obtain a discount code by contacting Subsea Monitoring Network e.V.
You want to become a sponsoring partner? We have slots available! Contact cluster management.
We look forward to seeing you in Rostock!
→ Register now and secure your place
Strategy
A major success for Rostock and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: the Federal Centre of Excellence for ‘Marine Munitions Recovery’ (BK Meer) is coming to the Hanseatic city. This is no coincidence: the research and business communities have been working closely together at the Ocean Technology Campus for years, thereby providing an innovation ecosystem for technical advances. The centre was officially opened on our campus by Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, underlining the growing social importance of munitions recovery. The aim is to coordinate the long-term management of the estimated 1.6 million tonnes of munitions debris in German maritime areas and to speed up its recovery. It is a race against time, as corrosion allows harmful substances to enter the marine environment. This increases the risks to fisheries, as well as to shipping, offshore operations and coastal infrastructure. This task for the future presents us with both challenges and opportunities: through innovation and collaboration, technological expertise will be further developed and tested. With an investment of around 140 million euros in the salvage operation, the federal government is sending a clear signal to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
It has become clear in Berlin that the maritime security and defence industry is emerging as a key driver of growth for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a centre of innovation. For the Ocean Technology Campus (OTC), this confirms that we are on the right track. By preparing for the third phase of the OTC Future Cluster and establishing the new security and defence industry (SVI) division, we are laying the foundations to support future innovation projects in an even more targeted manner. The aim is to develop new projects in collaboration with businesses and research institutions and to secure a further 15 million euros in federal funding for the region from the end of 2027 onwards. The conditions for this are excellent: with Hensoldt, Quantum Systems, Helsing, and STARK, as well as other new industrial partners in the OTC supporting association, a high-performing innovation ecosystem for maritime safety technologies is emerging in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Our conclusion: The OTC is increasingly becoming the central platform for maritime security and defence innovations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – bringing together industry, research and end-users to shape the solutions of tomorrow.
In an industrial hall at Kraken Robotics, Max Berger, Director of Maritime at STARK Defence, and fifteen of our partner companies came together for a half-day programme featuring presentations, live demonstrations on the quay and discussions. The aim: to decide which companies will make the transition from research to operational deployment. This is already the second major meeting on the campus in less than two weeks. This is no coincidence, but rather a new role that the campus has taken on: the place where the German maritime industry and research community engage in dialogue with key partners on crucial issues. The protection of critical underwater infrastructure was one of these issues.
Events & Presence
22 clusters and campus initiatives came together under one roof at re:publica in Berlin – Germany’s engine of innovation. re:publica showcased what German innovation looks like when medtech, quantum computing, marine technology, mobility and hydrogen sit around a long table and explain their work to the public. Once again, the urgent importance of public visibility was highlighted. Without it, partners, investment and collaborations cannot find their way to the innovative work being carried out on our campus. We are already looking forward to the next time the doors of the “engine room” open.
150 experts from the wind energy and maritime industries. Two days. A city that has every reason to host this exchange. The Baltic Sea is one of Europe’s most active regions for the development of offshore wind energy – with projects such as Gennaker, currently the largest offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, taking shape right on our doorstep. The question is not whether this region will play a central role in the energy transition. It already does. The forum ‘Innovations for Offshore Wind Energy from the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock’ brought together three partners who presented technologies that make offshore wind energy more efficient, safer and sustainable. Thank you to the Rostock Training and Further Education Centre, Subsea Europe Services GmbH and SAILWINT for three presentations offering three different perspectives on the challenges facing offshore wind: people, data and logistics.
Underwater robots from Vancouver, marine data from Halifax, wireless power supply from Newfoundland. A ten-strong Canadian delegation spent the afternoon at the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock Basecamp, where they met fourteen German partners from the fields of underwater technology, sensor technology, autonomy, defence and maritime data. The event was opened by our Campus Manager, Franziska Schmacka, and concluded by the Minister for Economic Affairs of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Wolfgang Blank, and our spokesperson, Prof. Uwe von Lukas – with a keynote speech by Andrew Bauder (National Research Council of Canada) on bilateral funding programmes between Canada and Germany.
The Ocean Technology Campus Rostock once again took part in H2O in Halifax. Unsurprisingly, the maritime security and defence industry took centre stage at the event and the subsequent COVE Demo Day, following Halifax’s selection last year as the North American location for the DIANA Defence Accelerator. With a stand right next to our partner COVE, we presented ourselves as a bridgehead to the EU market and held fruitful discussions with numerous Canadian stakeholders: Uwe von Lukas, spokesperson for the Future Cluster, explored opportunities for cooperation with the National Research Council, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (in the defence sector) and Dalhousie University. Gorden Konieczek from Sensys encountered concrete customer interest in his magnetometers, whilst Peter Wieland from the Wind Energy Network learnt about the emerging offshore wind sector in Canada and was able to establish personal contacts. Overall, it was clear that companies and public bodies in Canada are very open to collaborating with German stakeholders.
From the Network
The successful completion of the final trials for the ModularShipAssist collaborative project at the University of Rostock’s water sports facility marked an important milestone for automated vessel assistance in ports. As part of the ‘Innovative Port Technologies’ funding programme, the project partners developed a modular assistance system designed to support large vessels in port manoeuvres safely, efficiently and with low emissions in future. The system consists of several electrically powered thrust and tug modules, as well as a mobile command centre. The modules can be flexibly combined and controlled in a coordinated manner according to the requirements of pilots or ship’s masters. In addition, simulation methods were developed to design and optimise the systems in a realistic manner. During trials on the River Warnow, the project partners successfully demonstrated the interaction of the modules under realistic conditions on a model scale. The results highlight the potential of cooperative – and, in the long term, autonomous – ship manoeuvres. The project thus makes an important contribution to the further development of port logistics and provides valuable impetus for future autonomous shipping as well as intelligent, sustainable port infrastructure.
Sometimes the best networking happens only after the official programme has ended. We wanted to bring together talented individuals and companies and create a space for personal exchange. What was planned as a two-and-a-half-hour career dinner on the topic of marine technology turned into inspiring conversations by the water – with packed lunches on the floor, where discussions on underwater robotics, sustainability, career paths and future opportunities continued long after the official programme had ended. Fifteen female students from Rostock, Wismar and Greifswald met with our inspiring speakers Friederike Lempe, Helen Morrison and Steffi Kowitz (Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency), Merle Fruhner (Kraken Robotics), and Regine Labrenz and Leonie Barghorn (Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde). Organised by PromOcean at the BSH, this event will be neither the first nor the last of its kind.
The groundwork carried out in the first phase as part of the OTC-Base and OTC-FlyingArgo projects is being consolidated within the OTC-Base2Swarm project. This extension focuses on the creation of an underwater communication network with stationary nodes for the automated integration of underwater vehicles. Defined, open-standard interfaces facilitate integration, whilst the development of modular device housings minimises reliance on proprietary systems. The wireless power and data transmission technology, which has already been demonstrated, is being developed to product maturity, including the reverse power transmission capability. Compatibility with vehicles from different manufacturers is ensured by preparatory work carried out as part of the OTC-FlyingArgo project. The expansion of the communication network paves the way for future operational scenarios, with a pressure-neutral design of electronic components being of particular importance. A key focus is on the implementation of a standardised underwater infrastructure for real-time monitoring of marine engineering systems, which enables cost-effective testing. During the first sea trial in October 2025, the core sub-components of the underwater network – namely the base station and a secondary node – were successfully deployed in the DOL, and their basic functionality was verified. In addition, successful trials of the underwater glider were carried out both in the Baltic Sea and in the towing channel at the Technical University of Berlin. Based on the findings obtained during this process and in line with the development plan set out in the project, current work is focusing on the further development of key technologies. These include, in particular, pressure-neutral electronics, underwater positioning and underwater communication methods. The further development and integration of the overall system is to be comprehensively validated in October this year as part of a second sea trial.
We are taking the next big step: following an intensive strategic process and our new self-image as a pioneering innovation ecosystem for marine technology, we are now also getting a fresh new look with a clear logo, a new typeface and colours that bring together our world and our vision. Abyss Blue symbolises our expertise, depth and the power of the sea. Neon Sea Foam reflects our energy, drive for innovation and forward-thinking approach. The process was led by Maren Scheurer and André Berkmüller from 40knots. Together with them, we developed our brand strategy, refined our positioning, defined our identity and, based on this, created a brand identity that demonstrates that the Ocean Technology Campus knows who it is – and where it is heading. And we are looking forward to communicating exactly that even more clearly to the outside world.
| Date | Event | Location |
| JULY | ||
| 29 June – 10 July 2026 | Rostock Ocean Technology Summer School | Rostock |
| 06 – 09 July 2026 | Inventor's Camp | Rostock |
| 09 July – 27 Aug 2026 | Warnemünde Evenings at the Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research | Rostock |
| AUGUST | ||
| 06 – 08 Aug 2026 | HanseSail Rostock | Rostock |
| 07 – 08 Aug 2026 | Business meets Hanse Sail | Rostock |
| 27 – 28 Aug 2026 | Economic Forum Offshore | Sylt |
| SEPTEMBER | ||
| 01 – 04 Sep 2026 | SMM Hamburg | Hamburg |
| 09 – 11 Sep 2026 | European Conference on Data Analysis Stralsund (ECDA) | Stralsund |
| 12 – 22 Sep 2026 | Coastal Summer School 2026 | |
| 21 – 23 Sep 2026 | AI and Unmanned Systems as Drivers of Innovation | Linstow |
| 22 – 25 Sep 2026 | WindEnergy Hamburg · Campus Joint Appearance | Hamburg |
| 29 Sep 2026 | Ocean Technology Meet-up · Campus Format | Rostock |
| 30 Sep 2026 | Cluster Meeting · Campus Format | Rostock |
| OCTOBER | ||
| 06 – 08 Oct 2026 | Sea Tech Week | Brest, France |
| 08 Oct 2026 | Ocean Technology Talk, Speaker: Alex Maierean, Phantom Photonics | |
| 09 – 10 Oct 2026 | Jobfactory | Rostock |
| 12 Oct 2026 | 49th WindEnergy Regulars' Table | Rostock |
| 27 Oct 2026 | Ocean Technology Meet-up at TZW | Warnemünde |
| NOVEMBER | ||
| 03 – 04 Nov 2026 | Rostock Ocean Convention 2026 | Rostock |
| 18 – 19 Nov 2026 | Windforce Baltic Sea · Cooperation Partner WAB e.V. | Binz |
