Meyer Turku, the Finnish cruise ship builder, and the Helsinki based Aalto University have signed an agreement intended to develop and strengthen research activities plus teaching on a broad scale on a joint basis, the shipyard said in a statement.

Jan Meyer, CEO, said that the company wants Finland to be world leader in maritime technology and science and therefore the company is constantly looking for talented people. The agreement would provide a natural extension to the good cooperation between the company and the university.

Aalto University’s close cooperation between various disciplines provides a good foundation for innovation and it will bring new kind of competence to the maritime technology sector, said Ilkka Niemela, head of the university.

Marine-X, a new project at the university, would be developed to a new research and cooperation platform for the maritime technology sector, he added.