Breaking the Surface (BtS) international interdisciplinary field workshop on maritime robotics and its applications will be held from November 9 to 16, 2025, in Limassol (Cyprus).
For the 17th consecutive year, the workshop is traditionally organized by LABUST – Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) of the University of Zagreb, joined by the Centre of Excellence MARBLE (CoE MARBLE), with the local organizer being the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI).
Since 2009, BtS has been a meeting place for international experts, university professors, scientists, industry representatives, and students from diverse fields—an excellent opportunity for all participants to share and expand their knowledge not only in maritime robotics but also to learn the latest developments in marine biology, oceanography, and archaeology.
This year’s BtS is organized with financial support from the MARBLE project, implemented by CoE MARBLE, which, through partnership collaboration, will develop an innovative joint master’s program dedicated to maritime robotics in the blue economy. Additional support comes from UWIN-LABUST (ERA Chair in Internet of Underwater Things at LABUST), aimed at creating conditions and opportunities for high-quality researchers and research leaders to achieve sustainable excellence in the field of the Internet of Underwater Things, as well as the SeaTecHub project, which seeks to strengthen the innovation ecosystems of Croatia and Cyprus and enhance cross-border cooperation in eco-innovative technologies for healthy and productive seas. Long-term support is also provided by the IEEE OES University of Zagreb Student Branch Chapter.
This year, approximately 180 participants are expected from more than 15 countries worldwide, including students, scientists, and entrepreneurs in the fields of robotics, archaeology, biology, geology, and other sciences that rely on robots in marine research. Their experiences and knowledge will be shared through lectures and demonstrations by representatives from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Ruđer Bošković Institute, the Italian National Research Council (CNR INM), the University of Haifa, and many others. One full day of the workshop will be dedicated to presenting Centers of Excellence: CoE MARBLE (Croatia), CMMI (Cyprus), and INESC TEC (Portugal).
More details about the workshop can be found on the official Breaking the Surface website.