Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its research arm CETENA have combined with South Australia’s Flinders University to establish an Australian maritime innovation challenge.

The challenge, based on a similar scheme in Italy, was designed to foster international research collaboration, the trio announced at PACIFIC 2017 on Wednesday.

The Fincantieri-Flinders-CETENA Maritime Innovation Challenge involved Fincantieri and its research subsidiary CETENA funding and supporting proposals submitted by Flinders University researchers in the area of maritime research.

It also deepened Fincantieri’s existing ties with Flinders University, which includes students from the school undertaking internships at Fincantieri’s Italian facilities. The pair signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier in 2017 to collaborate on research and development.

Fincantieri Australia chairman Dario Deste said the burgeoning relationship with Flinders and its researchers exemplified the company’s commitment to supporting Australian innovation.

Flinders University vice-chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said the innovation challenge would prompt researchers to “think outside the box” to find innovative solutions to real world maritime needs.

CETENA president and chief executive Sandro Scarrone said he was thrilled to be bringing this initiative to Australia, noting the long history of working with leading research institutions such as the University of Genoa back in Italy.

Submissions open later in October, with project proposals to be reviewed by December 2017.