NAVDEC is the world’s first navigation tool that apart from the information function carries out tasks typical of decision support systems. This means that the NAVDEC system not only analyzes and assesses the situation at sea, but also offers to a navigator possible and in compliance with applicable regulations solutions to the collision situations.
‘Currently, the existing navigation systems are mostly information systems which allow a navigator for acquisition, collection and processing of relevant information he needs in order to make a decision. But it is the navigator himself that has to develop, evaluate and make the decision. In our solution the step of decision development is performed by the system automatically. The navigator receives several solutions with an indication of one of them’ - explains Professor Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, the head of the team that developed the NAVDEC system.

The university has provided to its employees - the creators of the system - a license that gives them the exclusive right to commercially exploit the solution – ‘The owner of the patent remains the Maritime University of Szczecin, but the license gives us a free hand to commercialize the invention. This is the first such agreement signed between the authorities of the University and its employees’ - explains Piotr Borkowski, the co-creator of the innovative solution.
During the negotiation of the license terms, the researchers received support from the Center of Marine Technology Transfer, Maritime University (CTTM) and Technopark Pomerania. CTTM helped in the process of patenting solutions and reaching agreements between the researchers and the authorities of the University concerning the license conditions, whereas Technopark provided the scientists with the legal advice, conducted training in entrepreneurship and technology audit of the team, as well as prepared a business and educational offer. Moreover, professional business consultants have developed a plan for the development of the project. After signing the license agreement with the University, the innovators also benefited from substantial support of the Polish Entrepreneurs Foundation such as, inter alia, intellectual property valuation technology, identification of legal requirements at the time of project marketing and business plan preparation. The project has been invested in by Pomeranus Seed, Seed Capital Fund.

‘This project proves that the competencies of major Szczecin business institutions are fully complementary. As a result, we have a variety of instruments to support companies; in practice we together create the regional innovation system’ - indicates Katarzyna Witkowska, the manager of Development Department at Technopark Pomerania. The purpose of Sup4Nav Company is business implementation of navigation decision support system on marine vessels. It is the first company founded by employees of the Maritime University of Szczecin. ‘We shall deal with the application of high technology in the marine industry. There has already been a great interest in our product; currently we are conducting talks with several partners from different countries including India and Germany’ - adds Piotr Borkowski . Sup4Nav has its headquartered in Technopark Pomerania.