COSCO SHIPPING (Piraeus) Port and the National Technical University of Athens signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation at the port on the 16th, formally establishing a collaborative partnership.

Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu, Chairman of COSCO SHIPPING Piraeus Han Chao, and NTUA Rector Chatzigeorgiou were among 40 Chinese and Greek guests attending the signing ceremony. COSCO SHIPPING Piraeus General Manager Su Xudong and NTUA Professor Ventikos signed the MoU on behalf of their respective parties.

Under the MoU, the two parties will adhere to the principles of equality and mutual benefit. They will focus on key areas including smart shipping, maritime safety, port digitalisation, green and sustainable development, and maritime transport and logistics, undertaking joint scientific research, resource sharing, academic exchange, and talent training. The aim is to drive the deployment of cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations in port operations, terminal upgrades, and management optimisation.

In his address, COSCO SHIPPING Piraeus Chairman Han Chao stated that the signing represents an important breakthrough in industry-university-research collaboration between the port and academia. COSCO SHIPPING Piraeus will leverage its strengths in port operations and real-world application scenarios, combined with NTUA's advantages in scientific research and technology, to drive the practical implementation of innovative outcomes and jointly build a smart, safe, green, and sustainable modern port.

Ambassador Fang Qiu remarked in his speech that this year marks the tenth anniversary of COSCO SHIPPING's full management and operation of the Port of Piraeus. Over the past decade, the port has continued to grow and develop, making positive contributions to Greek economic growth, employment, and regional connectivity. He noted that NTUA possesses strong scientific research capabilities, and expressed hope that both parties will use this signing as a new starting point to jointly build a bridge of technological innovation, a bridge of industry-university-research integration, and a bridge of mutual learning among civilisations, striving to create a new model of industry-university-research cooperation in the China-Europe port and shipping sector.

Rector Chatzigeorgiou stated that NTUA will leverage its disciplinary and research strengths to deepen innovation in areas such as shipping technology, digital transformation, and green development, supporting the quality enhancement and upgrade of the Port of Piraeus and continuously consolidating Greece's position as an international shipping hub.

The National Technical University of Athens is a long-established and comprehensive engineering university in Greece, with substantial research capabilities that have played an important role in Greek port engineering, maritime transport, and green and low-carbon development.