Ireland country of honour at Sea Tech Week in Brest

Maritime safety and security to focus minds in October

Life

In association with Campus mondial de la mer

Registrations have opened for Sea Tech Week, the international event dedicated to marine and maritime science and technology. This year’s 14th edition is taking place from 15-17 October 2024 at the Quartz Congress Centre in Brest with the theme of maritime safety and security.

This year’s country of honour is Ireland, marking the first time in Sea Tech Week’s 20-plus year history that a European country will receive this recognition. The event’s organisers, Campus mondial de la mer, already enjoy good relations with Ireland. The aim is to strengthen bilateral ties with Ireland’s closest EU neighbour and facilitate fruitful discussions on the most important topics in the European maritime space. On that note, we are delighted to welcome the Embassy of Ireland in France who will have a pavilion at the trade show.

On the agenda for 2024 are three keynote panel discussions; more than 30 workshops on subjects including cyber security, offshore energy, regulation, and governments’ action at sea; and an international trade fair featuring more than 40 exhibitors.

There will also be 200 business-to-business meetings, visits to businesses and labs for the Irish delegation, and a networking cocktail reception.

Maritime safety and security will be top of the agenda for this year’s edition, with workshops led by high-level panellists from esteemed organisations from across the world covering topics ranging from cybersecurity, robotics, data and space technology to ports, vessels and tackling pollution.

The event will be attended by thousands of scientists, entrepreneurs, clusters and researchers with opportunities to share the latest advances in research and innovation, make new contacts and further develop partnerships and cooperation, with a particular focus on the implications for the wider world.

Some of the Ireland-focused workshops include:

• Funding opportunities to facilitate Franco-Irish collaboration in the blue economy, organised by Enterprise Ireland – Tuesday 15 October, 3:15pm
• Smart green port by Enterprise Ireland – Wednesday 16 October, 3:15pm
• France-Ireland workshop on cybersecurity risks and challenges in the maritime sector, co-organised by the University of Western Brittany and the University of Limerick – Thursday 17 October, 9:30am
• Imagery of the sea in Irish arts, literature, and culture, led by Ireland’s Institute of Art Design & Technology (IADT) – Thursday 17 October, 9:30am

Sea Tech Week is organised by Technopôle Brest-Iroise in its role as part of Campus mondial de la mer. Located at the tip of Brittany, the Campus is France’s premier community of experts studying and working with the ocean. The event is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Regional Council of Brittany and Brest Métropole. It is also officially recognised as part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Sea Tech Week is organised in partnership with the European Commission.

The full list speakers and further information on the workshops will be announced in the coming weeks.

Registration is free for Irish delegates at https://bit.ly/STW_2024_R

Follow Sea Tech Week on X or use the tag #SeaTech2024