The project was presented at Pavilion 17 (Akademia), Stand 40 of the University of Piraeus, within the framework of the participation of the Laboratory for Quantitative Analysis in Shipping (QuALS).
The booth of the University of Piraeus attracted the interest of many officials and visitors. Among them were the Minister of Interior Theodoros Livanios, the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs Domna Michailidou, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, the Secretary General for Aegean & Island Policy Manolis Koutoulakis, as well as senior officials from several ministries and local government.
SMAUG is an ambitious research project co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. Its objective is to strengthen the security of ports and maritime access points by utilizing the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence in combination with modern detection and surveillance technologies. Ports constitute critical gateways for global trade, but also potential targets of threats. SMAUG seeks to address the challenges of security in maritime infrastructures with innovative solutions that can be applied under real conditions. Its implementation has positive impacts not only for shipping but also for local society and the economy, reinforcing confidence in the operation of ports.

The innovation of the project lies in the creation of an integrated monitoring system, which collects data from existing security infrastructures, as well as from underwater and aerial detection systems, and from surveillance vessels. Through the analysis of this data, SMAUG promises to provide rapid and reliable recognition of threats and response capabilities, contributing to the more effective protection of European ports.
Professor Maria Boile, Director of QuALS, presented to officials, researchers and visitors the technological and operational dimensions of the project. As she emphasized, “SMAUG’s contribution is pivotal, as it provides ports with the ability to move to a new level of protection, combining existing expertise with cutting-edge technology.”

Alongside her were the researchers of the Laboratory: Angelos Aggelakakis, PhD Candidate at the Department of Maritime Studies, Georgios Danis, Research Associate of EPAN, and Christos Nedeloglou, PhD Candidate at the Department of Maritime Studies.
The presentation of SMAUG at the Thessaloniki International Fair highlighted the leading role of the University of Piraeus in innovation and research excellence in the field of shipping. The project is not only about technological progress, but also about the security of citizens and businesses active around European ports. With such initiatives, the University of Piraeus confirms that research can constitute a strong lever of growth, protection and international cooperation.