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.

[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

[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.

On 4 February, World Cancer Day, HaDEA organised a project showcase event on ‘Fostering synergies to beat cancer: The impact of EU-funded projects’. 

The event was an important opportunity to demonstrate the impact of various grants and tenders managed by HaDEA in relation to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer.  

220 people attended the event in person and close to 500 attended online. Various stakeholders were present, EU-funded projects on cancer, NGOs and health organisations working in the field of cancer, National Contact Points and National Focal Points and policymakers. 

The discussions across all panels highlighted the critical importance of collaboration, data use and sharing, equity and innovation in addressing cancer care and research. The focus of the event was on cross-sector synergies and a multistakeholder approach, which are vital for advancing cancer care and enhancing patient outcomes. 

Revisit the discussions and watch the recording of the event 

Check out the full programme

Take a look at the projects featured at the HaDEA stand

Take a look at a few pictures from the event

HaDEA has published the EU4Health Prior Information Notice HADEA/2025/CPN/0008-PIN – Multiple sourcing Framework Contracts to speed up the development of and access to innovative medical countermeasures – Next-Generation Influenza Vaccines.

This call for tenders will aim to speed up the development of next generation influenza vaccines that could be produced in rapidly scalable manufacturing platforms (e.g. nucleic acid approaches and/or production in scalable eukaryotic or bacterial cell culture, in plants or via in vitro transcription), could support products utilising novel administration routes (e.g. nasal, oral or through microneedle patches), confer mucosal immunity, target potentially pandemic influenza A viruses or could be rapidly adapted to pandemic influenza A viruses, which are protective across influenza subtypes or across alpha-influenza viruses, and/or possess intrinsic immunogenicity without the addition of adjuvants.

Estimated budget: €147 951 410 (indicative ceiling for each of the framework contracts to be signed)

This action supports the policy priority to enhance the availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures and critical medicines, to support innovation and access regarding such products and to ultimately enhance preparedness for future health emergencies in synergy with Horizon Europe. It implements the EU4Health Programme’s general objective of improving the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicinal products and medical devices and crisis-relevant products (Article 3, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/522) through the specific objectives defined in Article 4, points (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/522.

Interested parties are invited to check the Funding and Tenders Portal for the indicative publication of the call in April 2025.

Background 

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The EU4Health programme goes beyond an ambitious response to the COVID-19 crisis to address the resilience of European healthcare systems. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.