The CDTI Innovation seeks a Spanish company to collaborate with the United Arab Emirates in an R&D project in the field of amphibious robotics
The Amity University of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is looking for a Spanish company interested in developing a semi-autonomous system capable of operating without problems in urban aquatic and terrestrial environments that will promote the avant-garde of amphibious robotics, artificial intelligence and environmental engineering
Dr. Vishal Naranje has been awarded by the Dubai Research Development and Innovation Programme for his Dubai Sea Lion – AI-Powered Amphibious Search, Rescue, and Infrastructure Maintenance System project. This initiative seeks to develop a semi-autonomous system with bimodal mobility that combines omnidirectional aquatic propulsion with robotic extremities adaptable to the ground, allowing navigation in flood-prone areas with high infrastructure density.
The Emirati consortium has a funding of 340,000 euros for a 36-month project, currently at the level of experimental development (TRL 4-6), focused on applied research and prototype validation.
The objective of the Emirati consortium is to incorporate a Spanish partner that strengthens the scientific novelty of the project and contributes to identifying commercial applications and ways of exploiting the technology. Activities to be led or co-developed include: design of underwater propulsion systems, AI module for autonomous navigation, digital twin simulation framework, XR/Oculus interface integration or marine grade sensor integration.
The Spanish company must have experience and capabilities in one or several of the following areas:
- Design and manufacture of ROV/AUV submarines
- AI-powered autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance
- Digital twin simulation platforms for robotics
- Extended Reality/Mixed Reality Control Interfaces
- Fusion of multiple sensors (sonar, LIDAR, optical, acoustic)
- Marine Grade Mechanical Design and Materials
In this link you can consult additional information about the proposed technological proposal and its scope.
The proposal aims to present itself to the 2026 call for international technological cooperation projects with certification and unilateral monitoring, which will have several cuts throughout the year, being next in March 2026.
Contacts
For further information on the technical scope of the proposal and the role of the Spanish company, please contact Vishal Naranje: vnaranje@amityuniversity.ae.
For specific information and advice on this search for partners and/or on the call for international technological cooperation projects with certification and unilateral monitoring, you can contact the Office of the Delegation of North Africa and Middle East of the CDTI Innovation:
- José Manuel Durán: josemanuel.duran@cdti.es
- Francisco Sánchez: francisco.sanchez@cdti.es
CDTI Innovation
The Center for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E. It is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is the promotion of technological innovation in the business environment. The mission of the CDTI is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2024, within the framework of a new strategic plan, the CDTI provided more than 2.3 billion euros of support to Spanish companies and startups.
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