With the participation of leading representatives in maritime technology and a focus on the latest developments in maritime informatics, robotics, and autonomous marine systems, the international IEEE Symposium on Maritime Informatics & Robotics 2025 will take place on June 26–27 on the island of Syros.
With the historical and maritime heritage of Syros as a setting, the Symposium sessions will be held at the iconic “Apollon” Theater in Ermoupolis. The program will feature workshops, technology demonstrations, and startup showcases, as well as sessions covering topics such as autonomous vessels, digital ports, artificial intelligence in shipping, and green innovation. The event will bring together a unique blend of researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers.
Key topics of discussion will include:
- Robotic and autonomous marine vehicles
- Big data analytics and machine learning in shipping
- Artificial intelligence and sensors for safety and green transition
- Digital ports and smart infrastructures
- Internet of Things (IoT) in the maritime sector
Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from the Symposium’s two keynote speakers:
Professor Paraskevi Nomikou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), who will focus on the use of robotic systems for monitoring and recording marine geophysical and environmental phenomena; and
Dr. Angelos Amditis (Research Director at the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems – ICCS, NTUA, and President of ERTICO–ITS Europe), who will present on the role of intelligent mobility in maritime transport.
Professor Dimitris Zisis, Chair of the Symposium and Director of the Intelligent Transport Systems Research Lab at the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering of the University of the Aegean, highlighted the significance of Syros as the host location:
“Syros was not chosen randomly. Beyond its historical importance as a shipbuilding and maritime center, it must once again emerge as a hub of innovation and research, linking its rich maritime tradition with the new technologies of the sea. In this context, the island can function as an important development center for maritime informatics, offering a testbed for applying and testing innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in shipping.”
As part of the Symposium, two parallel events will take place on June 27: the Aegean
Ro-Boat Race international competition and the AIS Forum organized by Open Cosmos.
The Greek National Satellite Space Project – AIS User Forum will be held at the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce and will focus on the use of satellite AIS data and their contribution to safety and innovation in the maritime industry. The forum is organized by Open Cosmos in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Governance and the European Space Agency (ESA).
On the same day, at the port of Ermoupolis, the Ro-Boat Race 2025 will feature student and research teams from Greece and abroad presenting autonomous robotic vessels capable of operating under real maritime conditions.
The Maritime Symposium 2025 is co-organized by the University of the Aegean, the University of Piraeus, and the University of Porto, with technical support from leading international scientific and technological organizations such as the IEEE Computer Society and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, ensuring high academic quality and a strong link between research and technological progress in maritime informatics and robotics.
The Symposium is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, the Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, and the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce.
It is also supported by Bronze Sponsor Antonios E. Komninos Foundation, along with additional partners including FER – University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, the Cyprus Institute of Marine and Maritime Studies, the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis, SeaTecHub, the Apollon Theater, Inmartek, the
i-SENSE Group, and Blue Star Ferries. The official professional congress organizer (PCO) is ARTION Conferences & Events.
For more information about the Symposium and its parallel events, interested parties can visit the official website at www.maritimesymposium.eu or contact the organizers via email at maritimesymposium@artion.com.gr.
