COMPAGNIE MARITIME D EXPERTISES SA

Their core work

COMEX is a Marseille-based maritime engineering SME specializing in underwater operations, autonomous vehicle systems, and deep-sea exploration technologies. They design and deploy remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles for seabed mapping, offshore infrastructure inspection, and marine biological research. Their work spans from subsea robotics and hydrogen-powered long-endurance survey platforms to niche applications like deep-sea algae harvesting, reflecting a company rooted in hands-on ocean engineering with decades of diving and subsea expertise.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

COMEX's early H2020 work (2015-2016) was remarkably diverse, spanning from subsea ROV operations (DexROV) to lunar construction technologies (RegoLight) — reflecting a company comfortable operating in extreme environments whether underwater or in space. Their later projects (2017-2023) show a clear consolidation toward marine autonomy and ocean resources, with UPMab exploring deep-sea biology and ENDURUNS building hydrogen-powered autonomous survey vehicles. The trajectory points toward a focused identity as a deep-sea technology integrator combining autonomous platforms with clean energy propulsion.

COMEX is converging on hydrogen-powered autonomous underwater platforms for long-endurance ocean survey and inspection — expect future work at the intersection of marine robotics and green propulsion.

How they like to work

COMEX primarily operates as a contributing partner (3 of 4 projects), stepping into coordination only for the smaller, more exploratory UPMab project. They work in medium-to-large consortia across 13 countries with 26 unique partners, suggesting they are well-networked but not a consortium-building hub. Their pattern indicates a company that brings specialized technical capability to larger teams rather than driving the research agenda, which is typical for an engineering SME with deep domain expertise.

COMEX has collaborated with 26 partners across 13 countries, demonstrating strong pan-European reach from their Marseille base. Their network spans maritime nations and space-sector organizations, reflecting diverse but non-repetitive partnerships.

What sets them apart

COMEX brings something rare: real-world operational experience in extreme environments — both deep ocean and space — combined with engineering capability to build and test hardware in those conditions. Unlike purely academic partners, they can take a concept from simulation through thermal vacuum chamber testing to ocean deployment. Their crossover between marine and space engineering makes them an unusual and valuable partner for projects requiring hardware validation under harsh conditions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ENDURUNS
  Largest project by funding (EUR 649,875) and most technically ambitious — developing a hydrogen-powered autonomous underwater glider for long-endurance ocean surveying, running through 2023.
• DexROV
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 787,125) focused on advancing dexterous ROV operations under communication latency — a core challenge in deep-sea robotics.
• RegoLight
  Unexpected diversification into space technology — solar sintering of lunar regolith for construction — demonstrating COMEX's extreme-environment engineering versatility.