KSUM Startup EyeROV Proposes India–Norway Marine Tech Innovation Corridor

KOCHI:
In a major recognition for an Indian startup, EyeROV, an underwater robotics company supported by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), was selected to join the official business delegation accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Norway, the first such standalone visit by an Indian Premier to the Nordic nation in over four decades.

Recognised under KSUM’s Unique ID initiative, EyeROV participated in the India–Norway CEOs Roundtable and High-Level Business and Research Summit held in Oslo under the leadership of the Prime Minister. EyeROV was represented by its co-founder and CTO, Kannappa Palaniappan P.

At the CEOs Roundtable, EyeROV submitted a strategic roadmap aimed at strengthening India–Norway collaboration in ocean technologies, underwater robotics, and the blue economy.

The Kochi-based company proposed the establishment of an “India–Norway Marine Tech Innovation Corridor” to accelerate bilateral deep-tech partnerships through joint research and development, market access, and collaborative innovation initiatives.

The proposal highlighted opportunities for cooperation in subsea engineering, green shipping, autonomous underwater systems, aquaculture technologies, and port infrastructure modernisation.

EyeROV also stressed the scope for collaboration in sensor integration, predictive maintenance, and AI-powered monitoring systems for marine infrastructure.

“Norway’s global leadership in subsea engineering, offshore technology, green shipping, and aquaculture makes it a natural partner for EyeROV. We see strong opportunities for collaboration in underwater robotics and next-generation ocean technologies that can contribute to smarter, safer, and more sustainable oceans,” Palaniappan said.

Calling the participation a proud moment for the company and Kerala’s startup ecosystem, he said the summit offered an important platform to showcase India’s growing deep-tech maritime capabilities on the global stage.

EyeROV also presented five key proposals during the summit to strengthen maritime technology cooperation between the two countries. These include the joint development of advanced ROVs, AUVs, and marine sensors capable of operating in extreme underwater conditions; AI-driven green shipping technologies to improve vessel safety and efficiency; autonomous underwater systems for port modernisation; and the use of robotics and data analytics to support sustainable aquaculture and food security initiatives within the blue economy.

The company noted that nearly 70 per cent of Norwegian companies currently operating in India are linked to the maritime sector, underlining the strategic importance of stronger India–Norway cooperation in marine technology.

KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika said the participation of EyeROV in the high-level summit reflects the growing global recognition of Indian deep-tech startups and serves as an inspiration for emerging technology ventures from the country.

EyeROV had recently secured a Rs 47-crore defence contract from the Indian Navy, further strengthening its position in the underwater robotics sector.

The company develops industrial-grade underwater drones for the inspection and monitoring of critical underwater infrastructure. It has also developed an AI-powered platform, EVAP, for faster data processing and predictive asset management in marine operations.