Capacity-Building and Support Measures

The AXOLOTL project is driven by the expertise of two Advanced Partners, Université de Bretagne Sud (UBS) and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), renowned for their excellence in marine & computer vision research and innovation. These partners bring complementary capabilities in biodiversity monitoring, remote sensing, and AI applications, positioning them to play a pivotal role in elevating the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute’s (CMMI) R&I capacity. Together, they will support CMMI in mastering cutting-edge methodologies to tackle marine biodiversity challenges and enhance maritime surveillance, ensuring alignment with EU and international strategic priorities.

Capacity-building and networking activities under AXOLOTL will focus on strengthening CMMI’s research, innovation, and administrative competencies through the following measures:

Design an international R&I roadmap: Develop a forward-looking roadmap that integrates the expertise and strategic goals of consortium partners, aligning with European-level Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) and enabling long-term research impact.

Enhance scientific and technical skills: Implement multifaceted knowledge-transfer initiatives, including short-term staff exchanges, expert visits, and hands-on training sessions. These activities will empower CMMI’s researchers with advanced capabilities in deep learning, data integration, and marine ecosystem analysis.

Strengthen research management and outreach: Deliver targeted workshops to improve CMMI’s administrative, dissemination, and entrepreneurial skills, ensuring effective communication of project outcomes to stakeholders and alignment with global best practices.

Enable strategic policy influence: Provide structured support for integrating research outcomes into regional and EU-level R&I policymaking, ensuring CMMI contributes to shaping marine and maritime innovation agendas in Europe.