Bringing Innovation Closer to Maritime Operations: GIZ SEACOM Facilitates Benchmarking and Drone Testing for Maritime Security
Strengthening maritime security requires not only effective coordination among government agencies but also access to innovative, locally developed technologies that respond to the operational realities of maritime enforcement and monitoring. As part of its efforts to strengthen regional maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia, the GIZ Project "Southeast Asian Cooperation on Maritime Security (SEACOM)," together with the Cebu Technological University System, organized a benchmarking activity that included a series of drone testing activities and technical discussions, October 11-14 in Cebu, Philippines.
The activity brought together government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector representatives from the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia to explore opportunities for developing customized maritime equipment and systems. This included unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles, and buoys tailored for a variety of maritime operations.
This event forms part of the SEACOM Project's support to regional cooperation in maritime security particularly in the development of drones in collaboration with the academe and private sector. The activities were held at the Cebu Technological University in Cebu City and Carmen Campus, and the Hagnaya Port area.
Participating stakeholders included the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (MECC), Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), the Philippine National Maritime Center, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and the academic community.
Participants conducted technical tests, shared insights, and engaged in discussions on the capabilities and limitations of existing and developing maritime technologies, helping bridge the gap between technological innovation and operational requirements, ensuring that future drone development is not driven solely by technical capabilities but is also responsive to the actual needs of maritime agencies.
By bringing together these different institutions, the activity reinforced the importance of collaboration among government, academe, and the private sector in addressing increasingly complex maritime concerns.
The SEACOM Project, funded by the Federal Government of Germany, aims to strengthen mechanisms for regional cooperation among selected ASEAN Member States in monitoring key sea routes in Southeast Asia and addressing shared maritime concerns. It supports national and regional interagency cooperation through technical equipment, facilitated information exchange, and assistance for joint operational activities. GIZ SEACOM supports the development of stronger partnerships between government, academe, and industry—helping turn local innovation into practical solutions for safer and more secure seas in Southeast Asia.
