Global Centre for Maritime Innovation (GCMI)
Maritime is one of the UK’s largest industry sectors (£116 billion), larger than aviation and rail combined. It carries 95% of the UK’s global trade and is characterised by highly productive and well-paid employment opportunities.
It has far-reaching impact evident from an additional £1.62 generated indirectly across the supply chain for every £1 of directly generated turnover.
In the Liverpool City Region, the sector generated £3.4 billion in business turnover or output, a 25.1% growth from £2.72bn in output in 2023, according to a report commissioned by the GCMI and published in early 2026 (Word, 492KB).
LJMU is recognised internationally for its long-standing maritime excellence and expertise, and its contributions to the industry worldwide. To continue with its international standing in the maritime sector, it launched the Global Centre for Maritime Innovation (GCMI) on 21 November 2024 to bring together its world-leading maritime education, research and innovation through a new global centre.
GCMI represents a pioneering academic and industry-facing initiative dedicated to advancing sustainable, technological, and policy-driven innovation across the global maritime sector. It builds on LJMU’s reputation for outstanding education, research and innovation.
It strengthens LJMU’s links across the industry on a regional, national and international level, ensure our work continues to meet current and future sector requirements, and equip our students for their future careers.
The centre is just the latest development in LJMU’s proud history as a maritime university, having evolved from the UK’s first nautical school in the 1850s.
Positioned within one of the UK’s most historically significant port cities, the Centre draws on LJMU’s long-standing expertise in maritime science, engineering, logistics, and policy to drive transformative impact. GCMI serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, applied industrial collaboration, and thought leadership in maritime innovation.
Our mission
The Centre’s mission is to address the complex human factor and technological challenges faced in the maritime domain through innovation-led research, cross-sectoral collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
The Centre aims to support the decarbonisation of global shipping, the development of workforce for digital and autonomous vessel technologies, the enhancement of maritime safety and resilience, and the equitable governance of ocean resources.
Bringing together our expertise under the banner of the LJMU Global Centre for Maritime Innovation reflects the university’s status as one of the world’s leading academic maritime centres.
The centre will build on LJMU’s reputation for outstanding education, research and innovation.
It will strengthen our links across the industry on a regional, national and international level, ensure our work continues to meet current and future sector requirements, and equip our students for their future careers.
Professor Mark Power
Vice-Chancellor of LJMU
Core themes
Maritime decarbonisation and sustainability
Developing low-and zero-emission propulsion systems, alternative fuels, and lifecycle carbon strategies for shipping.
Ocean governance and maritime policy
Shaping global and regional maritime regulatory frameworks to ensure inclusive, secure, and sustainable ocean economies.
Smart and autonomous maritime systems
Advancing digitalisation, AI, robotics, and autonomous vessel technologies for enhanced operational efficiency and safety.
Port innovation and logistics
Innovating port management systems, supply chain logistics, and digital twin technologies for future-ready infrastructure.
Training, skills and workforce development
Supporting maritime education and upskilling to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving sector.
GCMI stands out for its comprehensive and integrated approach. Rooted in Liverpool John Moores University’s commitment to ‘Research Informed Teaching,’ GCMI brings together excellence in research, innovation, education, and training.
Supported by state-of-the-art facilities, it provides a uniquely holistic platform that addresses the full range of sectors connected to the maritime industry—both directly and indirectly.
Get involved
Whether you are a researcher, practitioner, policymaker, or student, we welcome collaboration with all who are committed to shaping the future of the maritime sector.
Join us as we work to co-create resilient, intelligent, and sustainable maritime systems for the 21st century.
