#oceanology – The Marine Institute is at Oceanology International 2014 in London this week (11-13 March) promoting Ireland's fast growing marine technology sector and highlighting the opportunities to do business in Ireland.

Ireland's SmartOcean Pavilion (stand B500) sponsored by the Marine Institute showcases a range of products and services, such as smart control technologies for subsea remotely operated vehicles; subsea power cable fault finding; innovative data buoy and anti-fouling wiper equipment; and adjustable 'clutch fins' technology that can potentially double the output of wave energy devices.

Exhibitors at the Ireland Pavilion represent Ireland's growing SmartOcean cluster with displays by Mobile and Marine Robotics Research Centre (UL), SmartBay Ireland, Geomara, Jospa, IDS Monitoring, as well as INFOMAR (the Irish strategic National Seabed Survey by the Geological Survey of Ireland and Marine Institute), and Research Vessel Operations at the Marine Institute.

Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute said:

"We're delighted to take part in Oceanology International 2014 alongside some of Ireland's marine technology innovators. Ireland is a great place to do marine business right now, with a growing number of high tech marine and ocean energy companies developing novel products and services for international markets. And together with our national marine test-bed infrastructure in Galway Bay, Ireland is an ideal location to test and validate marine energy and subsea technologies."

The Marine Institute continues to develop Ireland's national marine test and validation facility for marine energy and subsea technologies in Galway Bay. The subsea observatory will include a standard telecommunications cable to provide power and high speed data communication between the shore station and a network of subsea data ports and surface buoys at the test site. The project is a national collaboration between the Marine Institute, SmartBay Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (UCC).

At OI2014, SmartBay Ireland is actively seeking companies with technology prototypes who wish to use this facility to test and validate novel sensors and equipment, for example Wave Energy Converters, Subsea Sensors, Data and Communications systems.

Visit us at the Ireland Pavilion to explore opportunities emerging through local and international initiatives such as Horizon 2020. Ireland is well positioned to work with Atlantic partners in the sustainable development of our ocean resource.

Ireland's SmartOcean Pavilion at OI14 supports the achievement of key actions from the Governments Integrated Marine Plan, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth. A Development Task Force was set up last December, appointed by Minister Simon Coveney to progress these actions including: promoting Ireland as a good place to do marine business and supporting new and existing marine test and demonstration facilities.