Valencia, Spain – Marine Technology Centre (CTN) and Oceanark Group PTY LTD (OCNARK) have signed a strategic collaboration agreement this morning, establishing a framework for co-developing R&D projects, transferring technology, and enhancing the promotion, internationalisation, and marketing of technological services and products. The agreement connects the innovation ecosystems in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean, and the APAC region (Asia, Australia, and the Pacific). The agreement was signed at the Spanish Technological Platform for Fishing and Aquaculture (PTEPA) exhibition space during Aquaculture Europe 2025, held at the Valencia Congress Center from September 22-25.
This collaboration positions CTN and OCNARK as strategic actors in accelerating responsible, high-performance aquaculture solutions, combining technological capabilities, regulatory knowledge, and access to international customer networks and consortia.
A bidirectional bridge to scale sustainable aquaculture
The agreement, signed by Noelia Ortega, Director of CTN, and Edward Capapas, Director of OCNARK, aims to jointly develop a series of initiatives, activities, and projects of mutual interest. These will cover key areas such as research and innovation, dissemination of results, technology transfer, consultancy, and the promotion of CTN’s services and products, particularly in the APAC region.
In terms of research and innovation, both organizations are committed to identifying and preparing projects at the regional, national, and international levels, including those EU programs and initiatives that may be of interest to both parties. As CTN Director Noelia Ortega highlighted, “this effort will maximize the impact of our technological capabilities across diverse markets, leveraging CTN’s extensive experience in developing, coordinating, and executing European projects like POSEIDON and TRANSEATION, among others”. Regarding promotion and internationalization, the agreement establishes a clear focus on boosting CTN’s services, products, and capabilities in APAC, with OCNARK acting as a strategic partner and official collaborator in the region, while also promoting OCNARK’s services and products in Europe, particularly in Spain, with CTN playing a similar role.
A key component of this collaboration is the exchange of knowledge, ensuring the flow of technical and scientific information between the two entities. The agreement includes joint organization of seminars, technical workshops, and innovation promotion events. Additionally, both parties will share their experiences and knowledge in areas of common interest, helping to advance the creation of more sustainable and effective solutions for the aquaculture sector.
Impact on the aquaculture sector
The partnership signed at Aquaculture Europe 2025 creates an agile vehicle to mature technologies, deploy pilots, and replicate best practices in diverse regulatory and environmental contexts. The complementary nature of the collaboration technological development and transfer from CTN, and strategic consultancy and territorial deployment by OCNARK will foster the creation of competitive consortia, mobilise public-private investment, and open new markets related to the blue economy. This agreement is expected to reduce the time to market for new technologies applied to the aquaculture sector, while enhancing sustainability standards across the entire value chain.
“What excites us about this partnership is the chance to put advanced technology into the hands of the people who need it most from farmers in the field to researchers and students working on the next wave of solutions”, said Edward Capapas, Director of OCNARK. “Our company delivers turnkey aquaculture projects around the world, and in the Asia Pacific region this agreement gives us the opportunity to bring digital twin technology into play, by combining CTN’s expertise with our experience on the ground, we can help the sector grow in a way that is efficient, practical, and truly sustainable”.
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About Marine Technology Centre
The Marine Technology Centre (CTN) is a non-profit business association composed of companies from the naval and maritime industry. Its mission is to improve competitiveness through the development of sustainable, innovative technologies, products, and services, integrating social, environmental, and economic objectives. Based in the Region of Murcia —one of Europe’s leading aquaculture hubs— CTN has over 20 years of experience driving innovation in Aquaculture 4.0 —AI, IoT, digital twins— such as SICA-SAVEFEED® (intelligent acoustic system for feed control) and DIGI SAFE CAGE (digital platform for structural health management of offshore cages). CTN has been awarded the JACUMAR Spanish National Aquaculture Award in 2022 and 2024. At Aquaculture Europe 2025, CTN sponsored and led the session “Precision Aquaculture 4.0”.
About OCNARK
OCNARK is an aquaculture consultancy specialising in sustainable aquaculture and marine resource management. Delivering turnkey projects and supported by a network of more than 80 experts across diverse disciplines, OCNARK ensures projects are innovative, accurate, and competitive in cost. Through evidence-based strategies, collaborative partnerships, and the engagement of topic-specific specialists, OCNARK connects the global aquaculture industry while fostering the blue economy and long-term viability of the sector.
Editor at the digital magazine AquaHoy. He holds a degree in Aquaculture Biology from the National University of Santa (UNS) and a Master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with postgraduate diplomas in Business Innovation and Innovation Management. He possesses extensive experience in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, having led the Fisheries Innovation Unit of the National Program for Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture (PNIPA). He has served as a senior consultant in technology watch, an innovation project formulator and advisor, and a lecturer at UNS. He is a member of the Peruvian College of Biologists and was recognized by the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2016 for his contribution to aquaculture.
