Interviewee: Chris Desomer, R&D Manager at dotOcean.

Role in PROTEAS project: PROTEAS Project Manager

Question: Please describe in a few words your position, background and role in the PROTEAS project.

Chris Desomer: My name is Chris Desomer, currently the R&D manager of dotOcean. I graduated from KU Leuven in 2014 with a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. I began my career as an R&D Embedded Software Engineer before joining dotOcean in 2016, where I got employed as a Project Manager, managing all product developments and projects, amongst which EDIDP and EDF projects. As dotOcean is growing, my role changed gradually. Since 2023, I’ve taken the role of R&D manager. From 2024, I’m a reserve officer at the Belgian Navy, acting as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on autonomous systems and data management.

My primary role in the PROTEAS project is mainly to support the project team and ensure alignment between the PROTEAS project’s developments and other ongoing projects at dotOcean.

Question: Please describe in a few words the role of your entity in the PROTEAS project and the business goals you aim to achieve through the participation.

Chris Desomer: In the PROTEAS project, dotOcean provides the Collaborative Multi-Agent System (CMAS), a mission management tool that bridges the Special Operations Forces Command Post and unmanned platforms like USVs and UAVs. Our goal is to enable autonomous, collaborative operations through effect-based tasking, reducing cognitive load on operators and enhancing mission efficiency.

By participating in PROTEAS, dotOcean aims to demonstrate the scalability and interoperability of our multi-agent system technologies in high-demand defence scenarios, expand our presence in the European defence ecosystem, and reinforce our leadership in cloud robotics and autonomous mission coordination.

Question: Please describe in a few words the experience of collaborating with several partners, from across Europe, towards a complex common end goal as part of PROTEAS.

Chris Desomer: Collaborating with partners across Europe in the PROTEAS project has been both enriching and highly productive. The project brings together complementary expertise, from C2 systems, over communication networks to unmanned platforms, fostering innovation through cross-domain integration. Working towards a complex, shared objective strengthened technical alignment, interoperability, and mutual understanding across borders. This collaboration not only enhanced the quality of outcomes but also reinforced the foundation for possible future joint European defence initiatives.