The Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF), started its activities back in 1984, after initiating the well-known “Factory of the Future” project in the European Union. After operating in several European countries for many years, we have now expanded to Sweden.
C4FF was one of the first nine organizations to be appointed to a Eurotecnet project. The centre has subsequently been involved in many EU-supported projects, i.a. Comet, Force, Adapt, Petra, Socrates and Eureka. C4FF was also the instigator of a number of projects including the MIDAS and DTI Pera programmes.
In recent years, C4FF has expanded into the field of maritime education and ship management, where we also lead and coordinate a number of EU Leonardo projects. C4FF continues to seek involvement in exciting and innovative new projects.
IDEC is a training & consulting company located in Piraeus, Greece, established since 1989. Its activities consist of training, management consulting, quality assurance, evaluation and development of digital solutions for both private and public sector. Clients of IDEC are both SMEs and the bigger Greek companies from a wide variety of sectors. IDEC co-operates with more than 800 institutes all over Europe and with about 300 experts on specific fields.
IDEC has 37 permanent staff, 10 interns/ year and around 20 external trainers that it cooperates regularly, providing training to approx. 300 international adult trainees annually.
IDEC has extensive experience in European projects, either as coordinator or as partner within different European programs and Initiatives. Over the last 18 years IDEC has worked extensively on the area of quality assurance in training and has coordinated the projects EQUAL, Quality.net, BEQUAL and QUADRAT on this topic. IDEC also has consulting experience in developing Quality Management systems in Greek training centres. IDEC is accredited as a lifelong learning centre,
organising in-service training courses for teachers and trainers, study visits and informal learning activities for students in initial education and training, and provides training courses and work placements for students in vocational training and people in the labour market.
The Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya • BarcelonaTech (UPC) is a public institution dedicated to higher education and research, specialised in the fields of engineering, architecture and science. The UPC puts its scientific and technological infrastructure at the service of research groups and centers, researchers and students, professionals, companies and institutions.
In a highly creative context, the UPC’s research, teaching and management projects are based on the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, solidarity, cooperation, sustainability, efficiency, transparency and social responsibility. They also reflect the University’s commitment to the environment and to change.
With a focus on intellectual rigor, critical! thinking, a transversal approach to knowledge, educational innovation and entrepreneurship, the UPC produces competent professionals with the skills they need to tackle present and future challenges. The activity that goes on at UPC campuses and schools has made the University a benchmark institution. The University harnesses the potential of basic and applied research, and transfers technology and knowledge to society. These actions make the UPC-in partnership with the productive fabric-an agent and driver of economic and social change.
The Maritime University of Szczecin (MUS) is one of two main maritime MET institutions in Poland. Currently over 4000 students are registered at the University. MUS is one of the best-equipped maritime universities by current standards. The University has over 100 laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technology including GMDSS simulators (real and virtual equipment). MUS possesses a modern research-training vessel, the m/s Nawigator XXI, and 14 most technically advanced simulators: Ship Handling Simulator equipped with a 3D visual system, Anti-Collision ARPA Simulator, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) Simulator, Vessel Traffic System (VTS) simulator, Satellite Communication System Simulator – GMDSS, Hydro-Acoustic Simulator, Autopilot Simulator, Radar Simulator, Cargo Handling Simulator, Fishing Simulator, Operational Engine Room Simulator, Graphical Engine Room Simulator, Refrigeration Simulator, Marine Centrifugal Pump’s Simulator, specialized simulators: Full-Mission Bridge Simulator with several virtual bridges and Engine Room Simulator. Training by means of simulators is considered to be the most effective method of training marine officers.
The revised Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping 1978/1995 recommends the application of simulators in providing knowledge and skills to the future merchant fleet officers. Therefore, much emphasis is put on practical use of the lectured theory. Practical classes, including those on simulators, constitute a considerable part of the curriculum. Thus MUS offers the prospective student most attractive study courses. Marine communication training is provided by the Institute of Marine Technology, located in the Faculty of Navigation. The basic aim of the Institute is to produce highly qualified graduates who are capable of meeting the present and future requirements of the global marine transport and fishing fleets and ship-owner’s operational services.
Crescat Oy is a registered company, SME, established 10th of October 1989. Maritime consulting, maritime training, under water operations, sea trials of new building ships are the main sectors for activities. Company hires staff according to the need and it has varied yearly from 0 (no activities) to 6 persons. The team at Crescat has many years of experience in the proposed project area. Captain Heikki Koivisto has extensive experience and expertise in the areas of International Safety Management (ISM) and Safety Management System (SMS) for the maritime industry.