AQUACUTLURE ENGINEERING
AND ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

The Aquaculture Engineering and Industrial Management Research Group conducts applied research and consultancy in the fields of aquaculture engineering, blue economy, renewable energy systems, and industrial management.

Our mission is to support the design, evaluation, and implementation of sustainable engineering solutions that enhance the technical, economic, and environmental performance of industrial and marine operations.

The group offers expertise in system design and optimization, techno-economic assessment, operational risk analysis, and quality assurance, with particular focus on aquaculture systems, energy-efficient facilities, and resource-intensive manufacturing processes. By combining engineering analysis with management science, we develop tools and methodologies that help organizations make evidence-based decisions, improve productivity, and achieve sustainability goals.

Our team has extensive experience in National and European research programmes (Horizon Europe, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), and the Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation) and has successfully coordinated and participated in multidisciplinary projects related to offshore aquaculture development, renewable-powered operations, sustainable production systems, and circular-economy business models.

The main research interests and activities of the members of the lab are related to:

• Aquaculture systems engineering: design, optimization, and techno-economic assessment of offshore and land-based aquaculture facilities.
• Blue economy development: integration of sustainable technologies in marine operations, including renewable-powered aquaculture and circular use of marine resources.
• Industrial and operations management: process optimization, lean production, and decision-support systems for manufacturing and service industries.
• Engineering economics and feasibility analysis: cost–benefit assessment, investment evaluation, and sustainability performance of engineering and energy projects.
• Renewable energy integration: application of solar, hydrogen, and hybrid energy systems to support autonomous and low-carbon industrial or aquaculture operations.
• Quality assurance and risk management: development of quality management frameworks and operational risk assessment tools for industrial and construction sectors.
• Technology assessment and innovation management: evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies supporting decarbonization, resource efficiency, and digital transformation.
• Data-driven modelling and optimization: use of simulation, decision analysis, and performance modelling techniques to support sustainable engineering decision-making.

Research Projects Experience

Over the past two decades, the group has coordinated and participated in numerous national and European research projects, providing scientific, technical, and managerial expertise in interdisciplinary areas linking engineering, aquaculture, and industrial systems.

Our experience covers the following thematic and application areas:

• Sustainable Aquaculture and Blue Economy:
Development of operational and decision-support models for offshore aquaculture; techno-economic analyses for sector expansion in the Eastern Mediterranean; integration of renewable energy systems for autonomous aquaculture operations.
• Renewable and Circular Energy Systems:
Design and evaluation of low-carbon energy systems and circular-economy technologies for industry and agriculture.
• Industrial and Production Systems Engineering:
Facility layout and process optimization studies for manufacturing industries; development of decision-support tools for lean and sustainable production; Quality and Risk Management:
Creation of real-time quality management and operational risk assessment tools for the construction and banking sectors
• Engineering Economics and Feasibility Studies:
Execution of detailed cost–benefit and investment analyses for industrial energy retrofits and aquaculture development, supporting evidence-based decision making and policy formulation.

Through these projects, the group has built strong partnerships with leading institutions across Europe, including the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), National Technical University of Athens, and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, among others.