Minister-President Daniel Günther announces New Digital Cooperation in the Maritime Space between Rostock and Kiel

The 15-million-euro project, led by the software developer north.io from Kiel and the cloud provider IONOS is realised by a project consortium from Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Marispace-X prevailed from over 130 applications as one of 16 lighthouse projects. These lighthouse projects are expected to make a significant contribution to the European digital infrastructure initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology.

Marispace-X is the largest industry-driven digitalisation project of its kind and is expected to contribute significantly to the development of the maritime data economy and value creation, both locally, regional and international level. In future, marine data can be stored, shared and analysed securely and efficiently worldwide in a cloud environment.

"We want to make maritime geodata usable, link it with other sources and process it partly underwater"

said Jann Wendt, Initiator of Marispace-X and CEO of north.io.

The state government will do everything to strengthen the project in the future, said Daniel Günther, Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein.

"I am pleased that this maritime lighthouse project for the digital transformation in Europe was initiated by Schleswig-Holstein's medium-sized digital economy. It is about maritime and climate protection, about accelerating the energy turnaround and about clearing munitions waste from the sea. All these issues do not stop at national borders. I therefore very much welcome this cooperation project and am sure that the North will provide strong impetus here", he said.

In addition to the positive ecological effects, there are also economic ones says Claudia Müller, Maritime Coordinator of the German Federal Government:

"Marispace-X forms the basis for maritime digital business models, enables new forms of digital value creation and creates high-tech jobs in the maritime sector in Germany. The project is a driver of transformation in the maritime sector and makes an important contribution to its future viability."

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From the perspective of Dr. Martin Endreß, Chief Customer Officer of IONOS, Marispace-X is a prime example of what can succeed with Gaia-X:

"Highly innovative ideas come through close cooperation based on common standards. In this way, European companies can develop data-driven business models that we would only know from the USA or Asia."

In particular, the cross-border digital cooperation in the maritime space between Rostock and Kiel in these fields is an important asset of Marispace-X says Bettina Martin, Minister of Science of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

"The maritime research and economy in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein will benefit from the cooperation between Rostock and Kiel. The funding for the digitalisation of the maritime region by the Federal Ministry for and Climate Protection strengthens our work for the positive development of science and companies on the Baltic Sea," she adds.

This great potential of the digitalisation of the maritime region is also recognised in the business community and has led to numerous major national and international corporations entering into partnerships with Marispace-X, including Microsoft, Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.

Photo, from left to right: Jann Wendt, CEO of north.io; Daniel Günther, Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein; Bettina Martin, Minister of Science of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Dr. Martin Endreß, Chief Customer Officer of IONOS, Dirk Schrödter, Head of the State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein.

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