Maritime Logistics Research Center │ Merilogistiikan tutkimuskeskus - SAMK

What Maritime Logistics Research Center │ Merilogistiikan tutkimuskeskus - SAMK does

The Maritime Logistics Research Center (Merilogistiikan tutkimuskeskus) is a non-profit applied research unit operating within Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), a public Finnish university, from its base at the SAMK Campus Rauma with an engineering/R&D site at the SAMK Campus Pori (RoboAI Joint Use Laboratory). Founded in 2017, the center conducts research and product/service development in maritime logistics across four overlapping themes: logistics chain efficiency, maritime safety, security of supply, and blue-green growth. It serves primarily public-sector maritime authorities, port operators, shipping companies, and SMEs in the Central Baltic region, with growing engagement in Southern Africa, India, and North America.

The center's core technology assets are physical and digital: Finland's only 360-degree visual dynamic positioning command bridge, a five-model Engine Room Simulator, the ISTLAB joint-use laboratory for intelligent fairway and remote-piloting research, and the RoboAI laboratory for technology and application development. Software outputs include the Port Activity Application (open-source, deployed across 16 Finnish ports via Fintraffic VTS), the NEMO Maritime Single Window (implementing EU Regulation 2019/1239 for Finland), the SataMari Energy Saving Tool, and several freely available e-platforms (Balticsmallports.eu, ChangeMakers, SME Aisle).

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: revenue is derived from EU co-financed projects (CEF, Interreg Central Baltic, Erasmus+), national government funding (Ministry of Education and Culture, AKKE regional development, REACT-EU EAKR), collaborative industry partnership projects, and tuition from maritime degree programmes delivered through SAMK. All digital platforms and tools are distributed free of charge. GTM is event-driven and community-led: engagement runs through IAMU and EFLE networks, international conferences, project consortia, and a quarterly newsletter. Pricing is effectively freemium; no commercial licensing fees are applied to platform outputs, and sustainability of the model depends on continued EU and national public funding cycles.

Name

Maritime Logistics Research Center │ Merilogistiikan tutkimuskeskus - SAMK

Legal name

Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu (Satakunta University of Applied Sciences)

Website

https://merilogistiikka.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Maritime Logistics Research Center is a non-profit applied research unit within Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) in Rauma, Finland, conducting maritime logistics R&D on logistics efficiency, safety, and blue-green growth for ports, public maritime authorities, and industry across the Central Baltic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Research and Development Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Yard Infrastructure & Asset Monitoring (IoT, CMMS, Crane/Dock Monitoring) (IMAJALAM), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Pilotage Authority & Dispatch Services (Pilot Stations, Rostering, VTS Interface) (TLAHAGAG)

Keywords

• Maritime logistics research
• Port operations research
• Maritime simulation services
• Blue-green growth studies
• Supply security research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rauma

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. EU Research Funding (CEF, Interreg Central Baltic): Primary funding through EU co-financed projects including CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) for NEMO CEF project (5,440,300 EUR total, 50% CEF funded) and Interreg Central Baltic programmes for projects like MUSTBE, Sustainable Flow, Baltic Sea e-Nav. SAMK's share of NEMO CEF is 810,200 EUR (CEF 50%).
2. National Government Funding: Funding from Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture for maritime specialized education, AKKE funding from Satakuntaliitto for regional development projects, REACT-EU EAKR funding for MeriLoki project.
3. Industry Partnership Projects: Collaborative research and development projects with maritime industry partners, ports, and shipping companies. Projects focus on efficiency, safety, blue and green growth themes.
4. Education Services: Maritime logistics degree programmes, continuing education, and specialized maritime training delivered through SAMK's academic structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Maritime Logistics Research Center conducts applied research, product development, and specialized training in maritime logistics at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK). It delivers research projects on logistic chain efficiency, maritime safety, blue and green growth, and supply security for ports, shipping companies, and government agencies. The center operates Finland's only 360-degree maritime navigation simulator, an engine room simulator, and joint use laboratories (ISTLAB, RoboAI) to support industry testing and remote piloting research, while developing freely available digital platforms such as the national NEMO Maritime Single Window and the Port Activity Application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NEMO (National Maritime Single Window) National single window for maritime traffic reporting in Finland that automates notification circulation to all required parties under EU Regulation 2019/1239. Used by port operators and maritime authorities to reduce administrative burden through simplified, harmonized reporting.
• Port Activity Application (Fintraffic Port Activity App) Digital tool providing real-time ship arrival and departure visibility for ports and port operators across Finland. Deployed to 16 Finnish ports through Fintraffic to support just-in-time arrivals. Source code is open source for other ports to implement.
• ISTLAB - Intelligent Ship Transport Laboratory Joint use testing laboratory that integrates navigation simulator, depth models, smart buoys, flow measurements, and weather/ice data to enable testing of remote piloting and intelligent fairway solutions.
• Navigation Simulators Maritime navigation simulator facility offering full-mission simulation with dynamic positioning, electronic chart systems, and radar. Used for maritime training, research, and industry testing.
• Engine Room Simulator Engine room simulation facility with five ship models and 12 independent workstations combining engine control room and engine room simulation for maritime engineering training and research.
• SataMari Energy Saving Tool Freely available digital tool providing solutions for maritime cluster companies to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy use.
• Maritime Logistics Academic Programmes Degree programmes, continuing education, and specialized maritime training delivered through SAMK's academic structure for students pursuing maritime careers and professionals seeking continuing education.
• Maritime Research and Development Projects Collaborative applied research and product/service development projects on logistics chain efficiency, maritime safety, blue and green growth, security of supply, and digitalization, delivered in cooperation with industry partners, ports, and government agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Port Activity App expanded to 16 Finnish ports, saving time, money, and environment through optimized just-in-time arrivals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Fintraffic VTScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023NEMO CEF project coordinator. Fintraffic VTS leads the implementation of Finland's national maritime single window system (NEMO) based on EU Regulation 2019/1239. The project (5.44M EUR total, 2023-2026) aims to reduce administrative burden on port operators through simplified and harmonized reporting requirements.
• Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in NEMO CEF project contributing regulatory expertise on maritime traffic notification services and EMSW implementation in Finland.
• Unikie OymajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical developer of Port Activity App and national port application platforms. Implemented satellite positioning and maritime traffic management systems for Finnish ports.
• Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject coordinator for Central Baltic Efficient Flow project that developed port applications for Rauma and Gävle. Led international collaboration on just-in-time arrival research.
• Rauman Satama Oy (Port of Rauma)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot partner for Port Activity App development. Container port with significant role in Finnish maritime logistics and early adopter of digital solutions.
• Gävle Hamn (Port of Gävle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish pilot partner in Central Baltic Efficient Flow project. Cross-border collaboration with Rauma on just-in-time arrival and port application development.
• Meteorological Institute Finland (Ilmatieteenlaitos)majorTechnology or IntegrationResearch collaboration in ISTLAB project providing wave and ice condition measurement data integrated into intelligent fairway testing environment.
• National Land Survey of Finland / PaikkatietokeskusmajorTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on navigation system research and integration into ISTLAB testing environment for remote piloting applications.
• International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of 60+ maritime universities. SAMK participates in Annual General Assemblies, MARISYNC benchmarking project, and collaborative research initiatives.
• European Forum of Logistics Education (EFLE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network founded in 1996 for developing logistics education and research. SAMK representative Daniela Tanhua elected as chairperson. Focus areas: education, research, competence development, and industry-academia cooperation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Global supplier of maritime simulation, navigation, and remote/autonomous vessel systems. Comparable through its K-Sim navigation simulator family and remote piloting/automation roadmap that intersects with SAMK's ISTLAB work.
• Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom): Finland's regulator for transport and communications. Acts as an associated partner on NEMO CEF and is a key national stakeholder for maritime regulatory implementation, overlapping with SAMK's research on S-100 and EMSW.
• Wärtsilä Land & Sea Academy / Wärtsilä Voyage: Finnish-headquartered maritime technology and services group. Comparable through its smart voyage, port operations, and maritime simulation/training offerings that compete for the same Finnish maritime cluster customers and grant-funded projects.
• Fintraffic (Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency / VTS): Finland's national traffic management authority and the NEMO CEF project coordinator. Fintraffic VTS is both a partner and a broader incumbent shaping the maritime digitalization agenda that SAMK supports through research and tooling.

Direct peers

• World Maritime University (WMU): IMO-founded graduate maritime university in Malmö, Sweden. Comparable in operating academic maritime research, simulator-based training, and global IAMU participation; a natural benchmarking peer for SAMK's research and degree programmes.
• Maine Maritime Academy: U.S. maritime academy visited by SAMK in December 2025. Comparable as a maritime-focused higher-education institution delivering simulator-based training, STCW programmes, and applied research with industry partners.
• Chalmers University of Technology (Maritime Research): Swedish research university with a strong maritime and transport group. Comparable as a Northern European academic peer conducting funded maritime research, port logistics studies, and collaborative projects under Interreg and EU programmes.

Emerging players

• Unikie: Finnish software company that built the Port Activity App and national port application platforms with SAMK. Comparable as a technology integrator operating in the same maritime digitalization space with similar edge AI / positioning capabilities.
• Awake.AI: Finnish maritime AI company that won the CO2 and Logistics Activity Digital Tool tender with SAMK. Directly comparable in applying AI to port emissions reduction and just-in-time logistics optimization, and an active ecosystem peer.

Regional players

• Port of Rauma (Rauman Satama Oy): Pilot partner for SAMK's Port Activity App and a major Finnish container port. Comparable in operating maritime logistics infrastructure in the Satakunta region and acting as a testbed for SAMK's digital tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/merilogistiikka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritime-logistics-research-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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