MARSEC-XL

MARSEC-XL, the Marine software engineering Cluster of Excellence, is a Cluster initiative (CI) in Malta aimed at creating a hub for business activity, research, technology transfer, education and training, promoting Marine Software and Systems Engineering.
About
MARSEC-XL Foundation was established in 2007 to develop and promote the Marine Software Engineering Cluster of Excellence in Malta. The Foundation oversees and co-ordinates the activities in the Business cluster. As an “innovation hot-spot” for the marine industry, MARSEC-XL provides an unbroken sustainable innovation chain encompassing a range of activities from applied research, education and training to business operations and technology transfer. Working on a cluster model, MARSEC-XL serves as a neutral ground where internationally leading brands, start-up companies and academic institutions work collaboratively. MARSEC-XL is supported by the Government of Malta.
Facts about MARSEC-XL
*MARSEC-XL is the Marine Software Engineering Cluster of Excellence established in Malta in 2007.
*MARSEC-XL promotes Open Innovation, Open Source initiatives for the maritime industry and serves as a platform for collaborative research & business activity.
*Vision & Mission: MARSEC-XL shapes the digital future of the marine industry by defining & applying Marine Software Engineering through research, training, education, awareness building and business innovation support.
2007 - 2010: the Founding Industry Members (FIM) of MARSEC-XL form the Industry Board of MARSEC-XL: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH of Germany and Sunseeker International Limited, UK, and are the pioneers laying the foundations for the digitalization of the yachting industry.
2010 - current: MARSEC-XL is open to all companies and organizations interested in marine systems and software engineering.
Importance of marine software engineering
The marine industry has become “software-determined”. Many onboard systems have significant amount of software inside and their quality directly depends on the quality of the software. MARSEC-XL / MI-SE@MALTA has developed a scientifically based methodology to assess the software content of any marine vessel.

Examples of products and solutions with a growing software content are:
1. Eco-Tech: reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions and noise.
2. Engines and propulsion systems (drive-line)
3. Navigation
4. Communication
5. Monitoring & Diagnostics
6. Infotainment
7. Comfort, Safety and Security Systems
8. Design and Operational Support Tools.
All these systems and solutions strongly depend on software, which controls them and most of them cannot be even implemented without the enabling factor: software. To be able to achieve reliable and cost effective solutions Marine Software Engineering is needed. Today, many of the challenges and problems in integration of systems and operation of marine vessels stem from the fact that the software has not been developed according to the principles of Software Engineering. MARSEC-XL addresses this challenge by defining, developing and introducing Marine Software Engineering to the marine industry. Achieving this goal will ultimately contribute to safer, cleaner, more user-friendly and economic vessels.
MARSEC-XL Building Blocks
MARSEC-XL consists of four distinct and interconnected units:
* The MARSEC-XL Cluster Initiative Office,
* The Marine Institute for Software Engineering at Malta, MI-SE@MALTA,
* The Ship Technology Expansion Centre, S-TEC,
* The Marine Business Port, MBP.
Key people and organizations
Founding Industries of MARSEC-XL 2007-2009:
* Navico Group
* MTU Friedrichshafen
* Sunseeker International
Since 2010:
* Fraunhofer IESE - Prof. Dieter Rombach - Council Member MI-SE@MALTA / MARSEC-XL - 2008 - 2010,
* MCAST - Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology - Prof. Maurice Grech - Council Member MI-SE@MALTA / MARSEC-XL - 2008-present
* MITA - Malta Information Technology Agency as representative of MITC - Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications - Council Member MARSEC-XL - 2010-present

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