TL;DR:
- Japanese automation giant Nabtesco has acquired a majority stake in Greek AI startup DeepSea, focused on decarbonizing shipping fleets.
- DeepSea will remain an independent entity, driving AI research and development for Nabtesco’s business ventures beyond shipping.
- The partnership aims to lead the sector’s green transition, with a focus on autonomous marine vessels and reduced fuel consumption.
- DeepSea’s “10 percent Initiative” targets vessel energy cost reduction and significant environmental impact.
- The strategic collaboration showcases the potential for Greek companies to lead in AI-driven industrial transformations.
Main AI News:
In a groundbreaking deal that made waves across the maritime industry, Japanese automation powerhouse Nabtesco has acquired a majority stake in the Greek AI startup, DeepSea. The strategic partnership, announced last week, is poised to have a profound global environmental impact by driving the shift toward green shipping practices. Moreover, it catapults Greece to the forefront of the sector’s imminent green transition.
The milestone agreement marks a significant moment for Greek entrepreneurship, with DeepSea retaining its autonomy as a separate entity headquartered in Athens. The startup, with its few dozen staff, will continue to operate as a dedicated research center focusing on the development of cutting-edge applications and products powered by Artificial Intelligence. Under the skilled guidance of its two Greek co-founders, DeepSea’s pursuit of AI-focused research and development will extend to cover the full spectrum of Nabtesco’s business ventures, encompassing wind turbines, rail and aviation automation, and industrial robotics.
Roberto Coustas, President and co-founder of DeepSea, expressed his enthusiasm for this landmark collaboration, stating, “This is a world first – for the first time, a Japanese company enters into this type of agreement with a Greek company. Nabtesco and DeepSea want to stay one step ahead of the competition as the sector evolves, and the decision to combine AI and automation technologies will enable our combined product offering to be unrivaled.”
Dr. Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos, the CEO and second co-founder of DeepSea, emphasized the partnership’s significance for the global industrial transformation initiated by artificial intelligence, leveraging Greece’s traditional leadership in the shipping sector as a springboard for innovation.
Nabtesco initially invested in DeepSea back in 2021, and with the recent takeover, the Japanese giant is poised to expand the reach of DeepSea’s solutions in vessel condition monitoring and voyage optimization across the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean markets. This move will not only bolster the development and sales of DeepSea’s existing solutions but also facilitate the acceleration of digital transformation within the maritime industry. Nabtesco aims to achieve this by synergizing its marine engine control systems with DeepSea’s world-leading AI technology, resulting in optimal route and speed proposals for marine vessels.
Undoubtedly, this dynamic partnership will have a powerful and lasting environmental impact by continuing to reduce fuel consumption through DeepSea’s platforms. It will also steer the industry towards embracing the autonomous operation of marine vessels, aligning with Nabtesco’s vision for sustainable maritime practices.
Beyond its strategic prowess, DeepSea is a champion of environmental responsibility. The startup’s visionary initiative, known as the “10 percent Initiative,” seeks to effect positive change on a global scale. By committing to reduce vessel energy costs by 10 percent, DeepSea and the members of the initiative are actively collaborating to achieve tangible benefits for everyone involved. In concrete terms, this endeavor is the equivalent of growing 83 million trees over the course of ten years, translating into financial savings of 5 million USD per year for a fleet of ten vessels.
Conclusion:
Nabtesco’s acquisition of DeepSea marks a significant development for the maritime industry. This strategic partnership not only places Greece at the forefront of the green shipping revolution but also demonstrates the potential of AI-driven solutions to create a sustainable future. The combined expertise of DeepSea and Nabtesco positions them as pioneers in the field, driving the market toward greater adoption of environmentally conscious practices and innovative AI technologies.
