Bringing together more than 300 industry experts, researchers, and policymakers, Waterborne Days provided an excellent forum to discuss the main trends and pressing challenges facing the sector.
Addressing the opening session, Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of the European Commission’s Department for Transport and Mobility (DG MOVE), highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts between industry, governments and other stakeholders: “Balancing economic growth and sustainability requires a holistic approach, but also creates tremendous economic opportunities for Europe’s innovative waterborne industrial sector.”
Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate in the Commission’s Department for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), also pointed to strengthening collaboration: “We need to develop a ‘Team Europe’ approach so we all contribute to driving the twin green and digital transition and push the boundaries of technology forward.”
Awarding excellence
During the event, several CINEA-managed projects – funded under the EU’s Horizon programme for research and innovation – contributed first-hand insights into their innovations that are shaping the industry’s path forward. Three of these projects also picked up coveted Waterborne Awards in the categories of environmental impact (ENGIMMONIA), innovation (sHYpS) and economic viability (Mari4YARD).
The overall outstanding innovation award also went to ENGIMMONIA – well-deserved recognition for the efforts undertaken to advance the waterborne sector towards a greener and competitive future!
From innovative ideas to large-scale action
In the keynote speech on day two, CINEA’s Marcel Rommerts, Head of Unit for Horizon Transport, underscored not only the vast opportunities offered by the EU funding programmes for the waterborne sector, but also the importance of exploiting their synergies:
“In CINEA, we are uniquely positioned to help you leverage the complementarities between programmes. We stand ready to help you navigate the funding opportunities with the goal of bringing great green innovations to market,” said Marcel Rommerts.
CINEA manages a large portfolio of 350 EU projects related to waterborne transport, under several programmes. With an overall EU contribution of close to €5.9 billion[1], this covers the entire pipeline from devising, developing and demonstrating green waterborne solutions (Horizon Europe / EMFAF), to scaling up and deployment through CEF (infrastructure solutions), Innovation Fund (net-zero industrial solutions), and LIFE (environmental solutions).
The projects cover a range of areas from alternative fuels storage and propulsion solutions such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, to electrification solutions, ship emissions control, and wind-based technologies.
Mr Rommerts highlighted examples of collaborative research projects that had ‘scaled up’ from innovative ideas to large-scale action. Aspiring Wingsails was first supported by the EMFAF programme, building and installing the first full-scale prototype of a new sail[2] on board a fishing vessel. The wind-assisted propulsion technology is now being deployed in five large cargo vessels under the Innovation Fund-supported SUSTAINSEA project. This initiative will help reduce emissions by up to 91% while lowering dependence on fossil fuels.
[Read more on scaling up impact in this news article by DG RTD: From collaborative R&I to scaled impact in waterborne: building on EU Research Excellence]
Wind technologies along with ammonia were the themes of two workshops organised and moderated by CINEA during the event. Eight EU-backed Horizon research project presented their main innovations, challenges and results so far, showcasing the potential of these various solutions for market prospects.
- Ammonia: AMMONIA2-4 /NH3Craft / Apollo / Fastwater
- Wind: Retrofit55 /Optiwise / CHEK / Orcelle
[Read more on CHEK and FASTWATER in our feature stories]
Reinforced commitment
Overall, the stimulating discussions and productive exchanges between the projects, policymakers, researchers and industry demonstrated the value of collaboration for tackling the challenges facing the sector. The event provided an excellent forum for assessing progress, priorities and gaps, while also underpinning the commitment of the sector to the green and digital transformation
MORE
- Event website
- Event press release
- Waterborne Days 2025 special magazine
- European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) TRIMIS report on Research and Innovation supporting the Decarbonisation of the European Waterborne Sector
[1] Of this, €3.7 billion is dedicated to infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility with €1 billion supported by the Innovation Fund.
[2] Bound4Blue that owns the technology also received €10.3M in support from the EIC of both grant and equity.
Details
- Publication date
- 6 February 2025
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency