Oceanbird didn’t start as a company. It began as a bold idea at Wallenius Marine to create a zero emission vessel which took shape with wing sails by bringing in some partners. A student project to explore the challenges with aerodynamics, sailing mechanics and performance analysis took shape at KTH Royal Institute of Technology: could wind power reshape the future of shipping? That idea grew into a seven-meter model and eventually into Oceanbird—a company dedicated to making maritime transport more sustainable. Today, Oceanbird continues to collaborate closely with academia, offering students the chance to see their research applied in real-world contexts.
Doing research in a company setting is not the same as staying within the walls of a university. As Antonia Hillenbrand, a PhD researcher at Oceanbird, explains:
“There are very many opportunities and there’s a lot of interest in the outcomes… all the research I’m doing and what any thesis project worker will be doing is applied in some way and it will directly lead to an outcome that will be useful for the company and for the R&D department.”
That relevance makes a difference. At Oceanbird, projects are connected to ongoing development and have tangible applications, and students have access to data and resources that are hard to find elsewhere: full-scale wings in Landskrona, advanced measurement systems on vessels like Tirranna, and data that brings wind dynamics to life. “There’s just a lot to work with, which is not easily accessible otherwise,” says Antonia.
Of course, working in industry comes with its own challenges. “It comes with some pressure… to accomplish something you feel is useful in the end” Antonia admits. Balancing academic depth with practical outcomes can be demanding, but it also means the work has a clear purpose and impact.
Oceanbird grew out of research, and that spirit of exploration is still at the heart of what we do. For students interested in engineering, sustainability, and innovation, it’s an opportunity to contribute to projects that aim to make shipping cleaner and smarter.
Interested in taking part in Oceanbird as a student? Explore our thesis proposals and see how you can get involved.
