Kochi: EyeROV, an underwater robotics startup supported by Kerala Startup Mission, has proposed the establishment of an India–Norway Marine Tech Innovation Corridor to strengthen bilateral collaboration in ocean technologies, underwater robotics, and the blue economy.
The proposal was presented during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Norway, marking the first standalone visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic nation in over four decades.
Recognised under KSUM’s Unique ID initiative, EyeROV was selected to join the official business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister to Norway.
The company participated in the India–Norway CEOs Roundtable and High-Level Business and Research Summit held in Oslo. EyeROV was represented at the summit by its co-founder and CTO, Kannappa Palaniappan P.
During the CEOs Roundtable, EyeROV submitted a strategic roadmap focused on accelerating India–Norway partnerships in marine technology and deep-tech innovation.
The Kochi-based startup proposed the creation of an “India–Norway Marine Tech Innovation Corridor” aimed at enabling joint research and development, collaborative innovation initiatives, and improved market access for both countries.
The proposal highlighted several areas of collaboration, including subsea engineering, autonomous underwater systems, green shipping, aquaculture technologies, and port infrastructure modernisation.
EyeROV also underlined opportunities 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,” said Palaniappan.
Calling the participation a significant milestone for both the company and Kerala’s startup ecosystem, Palaniappan noted that the summit provided a global platform to showcase India’s expanding deep-tech maritime capabilities.
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EyeROV also presented five major proposals during the summit to strengthen maritime technology cooperation between India and Norway.
These included the joint development of advanced ROVs, AUVs, and marine sensors capable of operating in extreme underwater environments. The company also proposed AI-driven green shipping technologies aimed at improving vessel safety and operational efficiency.
In addition, EyeROV suggested the deployment of 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 framework.
According to the company, nearly 70 per cent of Norwegian companies currently operating in India are linked to the maritime sector, highlighting the strategic relevance of stronger India–Norway collaboration in marine technology.
Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, said the participation of EyeROV in the high-level summit reflects the increasing global recognition of Indian deep-tech startups and serves as an inspiration for emerging technology ventures across the country.
EyeROV had recently secured a ₹47-crore defence contract from the Indian Navy, further strengthening its presence in the underwater robotics sector.
The company develops industrial-grade underwater drones designed for inspection and monitoring of critical underwater infrastructure.
EyeROV has also developed an AI-powered platform named EVAP for faster data processing and predictive asset management in marine operations.
