This afternoon, French Polynesia’s Vice President and Minister of the Blue Economy, Teva Rohfritsch, signed a co-ownership agreement with University of French Polynesia President Patrick Capolsini to commercialize the MAIAO software patent.
The software, officially named “Automatic Measurement of Nacre Thickness by X-ray” (MAIAO), represents years of collaboration between the Marine Resources Department (DRM) and the University’s research team.
Currently operational in DRM’s pearl quality control unit, MAIAO automates nacre thickness measurement using X-ray images – a breakthrough developed through a PhD student’s three-year research project.
Key innovation:
• Eliminates subjectivity in manual measurements previously conducted by X-ray image analysts
• Delivers precise, standardized pearl evaluations
• Enhances quality control for Polynesia’s signature export
“MAIAO ensures objective, consistent quality assessment – crucial for maintaining our pearls’ premium positioning,” emphasized University President Capolsini during the signing ceremony.
The agreement formalizes joint stewardship of this intellectual property, marking a strategic step in modernizing Polynesia’s pearl sector through academic-government partnership.
Leave a Reply