Underwater technologies
The maritime transport sector plays a cru cial role in global supply chains for energy, goods, and passengers transport. Ship ping forms the backbone of global supply chains, connecting producers and con sumers worldwide. The ability to move goods quickly and reliably is crucial for maintaining the flow of trade and sup porting economic growth, especially for the EU. Modern shipping relies heavily on digital technologies for navigation, com munication, and logistics: this integration improves efficiency of economies of scale, but also introduces cybersecurity risks, as interconnected systems can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks. On the other hand, global interconnectivi ty and the growing dependence on digital technologies for managing and operating competitive maritime assets have extend ed cyberspace to new, once remote sepa rated domains: space, which was the fron tier of technological innovation forty years ago, and the underwater environment, much newer, now emerging as the next frontier for groundbreaking advancements such as energy production from the sea, mining, and applications for aquaculture. ب The underwater defence market is ex pected to reach $400 billion by 2030, in response to the rapidly evolving pub lic safety needs of countries, not only in the EU but around the world. ب This expansion, accelerated by the new geopolitical cycle, introduces new scenarios for cybersecurity challenges, as satellites and critical underwater infrastructure, such as cables and pipe lines, become potential dual targets for cyber-attacks. ب Securing these systems is crucial not only for maintaining global communica tions, navigation, and Earth observation but also for protecting strategic infra structures for energy and defense. The following summary outlines the key priorities anticipated for the next techno logical wave “under the sea”
UNDERWATER DOMAIN RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND SECURITY
Considering both advancements in technology and increasing global pri orities for sustainability and security, key R&D activities within the maritime transport sector shall include design, development and construction of un manned systems for the protection of critical underwater infrastructures and seabed mapping, ships for repairing underwater cables equipped for the launch and recovery of innovative drones, as well as new generation of submarines. The following aspects will have to be taken into account:
• The rising of opportunities for research organisations and SMEs supporting industrial interests of the Member States in the field of underwater technologies, for strategic infrastructures protection and maintenance
• Typically, the new set of tech nologies will be derived from the defence sector and will be adapted to civilian use: test, val idation and exploitation of du al-use technologies developed in the field of UW systems.
• The need to develop and maintain European leadership in underwater technologies in the new geopolitical perspective for the EU, giving rele vance to the “under the sea” dimen sion of the maritime transport sector
Training programmes adopted at European level to develop specialist skills (e.g. AUV designers, AI and Quantum communications experts, cybersecurity professionals, etc.) will be essential to create a qualified workforce, particularly within this innovative field of sub-sea technologies. Collaboration within European MS by means of EU-funded project activities will certainly facilitate the overall advance ment of technological and operational capabilities. Moreover, investments in infrastructure such as underwater lab oratories and test platforms can be a strategic chapter for European policies that aim to create a solid infrastructure for research and development in the EU-mari time sector.