Why the EU supports research and innovation in waterborne transport
The main challenge for waterborne transport is how to balance optimal energy use with environmental impact. The sector lags behind other modes in this respect.
Research is looking into new and better waterborne transport concepts to encourage moving freight by water rather than road.
These include
- improving the environmental performance of marine engines
- safer operations
- lowering lifecycle costs
- innovating in inland waterways
The entire value chain needs to get faster at creating and deploying research and innovation solutions. New frontiers in vessels and the industrial use of the oceans need to be explored further.
Funding opportunities
On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to the environment-related calls
COST (European cooperation in science and technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks
CEF Transport co-finances projects that enhance multimodality, improve infrastructure and advance innovation and new technologies.
Projects and results
Specialised collection of projects at European, national and international levels.
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded waterborne transport research projects.
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded waterborne research projects.
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships.
Collaboration and jobs
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
The Waterborne ETP brings together stakeholders to transform the sector into a zero-emission mode of transport as soon as possible.
Researcher jobs in related fields
Network for local and regional authorities to work together to promote sustainable mobility by deploying innovative transport solutions.
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Dashboard where you can search for data on beneficiaries of H2020 funding for smart mobility and services
Scientific publications produced by the European Commission (JRC)
The Commission's Joint Research Centre compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access transport related ones here.
Online library of EU waterborne transport research publications
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes