Project Leaders
The project is being developed by Copsys Technologies, a Canadian company specialising in technologies for protecting and monitoring infrastructure integrity. The research and development of the Copsys Intelligent Digital Skin (CIDS) technology is carried out in collaboration with Memorial University of Newfoundland through the Mitacs programme.
Project Description
This innovative project develops Copsys Intelligent Digital Skin (CIDS), a smart coating for ship hulls and other critical marine infrastructure that integrates capabilities for protection, detection and surface condition monitoring.
Unlike a conventional coating, CIDS is designed to monitor the integrity of the protective layer in real time and detect and locate potential damage before corrosion occurs. The technology also incorporates integrated cathodic protection, meaning that the coating itself combines the function of a protective barrier with active detection and protection systems.
The system also incorporates a protective function against biofouling, meaning the unwanted accumulation of living organisms on surfaces that are in contact with water. In this way, CIDS integrates different functions related to the protection and monitoring of ship hulls and other critical marine infrastructure into a single technology.
The main innovation lies in integrating coating condition detection and corrosion protection within the same layer, incorporating materials technology, electronics and digital monitoring. The system provides remote information on the condition of the surface, rather than relying solely on periodic visual inspections.
The technology is currently in the development and validation phase for marine applications. The current project aims to confirm the effectiveness of CIDS in this field and prepare a second phase of offshore pilot testing, which will also explore its application to different surfaces in direct contact with the sea and its performance compared with conventional cathodic protection systems.
This case demonstrates how the combination of materials science, sensors and digital monitoring can transform conventional coatings into active tools for the protection and maintenance of ship hulls and other critical marine infrastructure, with the potential to reduce reliance on manual inspections and facilitate a more preventive approach to corrosion management.
Copsys Technologies is also among the startups selected for the PortXL acceleration programme at the Port of Rotterdam, aimed at startups developing solutions for the port and maritime sectors.
Project Objectives
The main objective is to develop and validate the Copsys Intelligent Digital Skin (CIDS) coating for marine applications, integrating corrosion protection, damage detection and remote monitoring of the surface condition of ship hulls and other critical marine infrastructure.
The project also aims to move towards a future offshore application of the technology by studying its performance on different types of assets and comparing its operation with conventional cathodic protection systems.
Publication Date
28 October 2026