From April 2025, MTI Co., Ltd. (Hideki Suzuki, President, “MTI”), an NYK Group company, will collaborate with others to establish the Open Collaboration Laboratory for Enabling Advanced Marine Systems (OCEANS) within the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Osaka. This new lab will be set up with the cooperation of The University of Osaka (Atsushi Kumanogoh, President), Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Yukito Higaki, President), Japan Marine United Corporation (Takashi Hirose, President), and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Hayato Suga, President & CEO).

For Japan, which is surrounded by sea, the maritime industry, that supplies and operates ships for marine transportation is fundamental for social and economic stability and people’s living. The Graduate School of Engineering at The University of Osaka, particularly its Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, has achieved global recognition for its research on ships and marine structures. This collaborative research program leverages the strengths of Japan’s world-renowned maritime industry cluster, including shipbuilding, shipping, and ship classification. By deepening industry-academia collaboration, it aims to enhance international competitiveness, advance world-class research, and foster talent development.

Overview of the Laboratory
Name: Open Collaboration Laboratory for Enabling Advanced Marine Systems (OCEANS)
Duration: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2030 (5 years)
Location: Techno Alliance Building, A804-806, The University of Osaka

Research Focus Areas
1. Basic research on innovative systems engineering and design automation
A) Resilience of supply chains for stable marine transportation
B) Application of AI in ship basic design, function design, and certification
C) Production design and digital shipyards
D) Digital twin technologies in ship operation and maintenance

2. Individual studies on design, construction, operation, and certification, including open and closed research projects

3. Education and training for the next generation of maritime industry experts