Info-session summary: Barge owners & operators needed to collaborate on EU-funded Inland Navigation projects

We are looking for partners for the EU Inland Navigation projects!

European IWT Platform’s Info-Session
Friday 10th September 2021 : 13.30-15.30

INFO-SESSION SUMMARY

The current EU long-term budget, also known as Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has started this year and will be running until 2027. Under Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, the European Commission will substantially invest in various projects focusing on transport – Inland Navigation included. Attention will be given to decarbonisation and greening, modal shift, digitalisation and automation, alternative fuels and EU resilience to climate change.

Earlier in June, the work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022 was adopted. It outlines the objectives and specific topic areas that will receive a total of €14.7 billion in funding. The first calls were also launched on the Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal.

We have already been contacted by parties that are eager to cooperate on the proposals in response to the calls. The focus will be on research and innovation, however all the proposals will include pilot projects – an initial small-scale implementation to prove the viability of a project idea. Such pilot projects in the field have to involve barges, hence we are reaching out to the barge owners and operators that would be willing to contribute to the proposals and, if selected for funding, to the projects. In return for your time and effort, you will receive: • Budget that covers the expenses; • Opportunity to team up with other relevant parties active in Inland Navigation; • Possibility to be involved in co-shaping Europe’s R&D and innovation environment.

In this spirit, the IWT Platform organised an Info-Session on September 10, 2021. During the session – followed by a Q&A session – we explained more in detail the specifics of Horizon Europe programme, Cluster 5 project calls and all the organisational arrangements within the consortium. The participants learnt what can be expected from them being part of a collaborative project, and what they would receive in return if a project proposal is approved and financially granted. You can access all the relevant materials below.

Click HERE to see the Info-Session presentation!

Relevant documents: