PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 5 November 2025

The DiVINE (Digitalisation Vision Inland Navigation Europe) project officially kicked off on 3rd October 2025, representing a new step forward in the European Commission’s work to promote the digital and energy transition of inland waterway transport (IWT).

Coordinated by the European IWT Platform, with a consortium of leading organisations — Ecorys, Danube Commission, EICB, viadonau and Circle Group, DiVINE will support the sector with the preparation of the roadmap for the implementation of the Digitalisation Vision for Inland Waterway Transport, one of the strategic enablers of the European Green Deal and Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. The project is financed for the EU Funds and managed by DG MOVE.

The project will run for 36 months, setting the course for a modern, connected, and low-emission inland navigation system across all EU river basins. DiVINE aims to transform the shared vision for IWT digitalisation into a concrete, actionable roadmap towards 2035, enabling the sector to become competitive, resilient, innovative, and digitally integrated within Europe’s multimodal transport network.

The project focuses on four strategic pillars:

  • Smart Administration – streamlining reporting and regulatory procedures through digital tools and single windows;
  • Smart Vessels – promoting automation and next-generation onboard technologies;
  • Smart Infrastructure – supporting cross-border corridor management through digital twins and intelligent systems;
  • Smart Data – developing trusted, interoperable data spaces connecting IWT with other transport modes.

Together, these pillars will underpin the creation of a European IWT Data Space within the European Mobility Data Space, and the implementation of RIS Network Management at EU level.

To ensure strong sector ownership and alignment, DiVINE will involve stakeholders across Europe’s inland waterway ecosystem through structured consultations, collaborative dialogue, and targeted outreach, while ensuring wide visibility of its outcomes via an integrated communication strategy that includes a dedicated website, digital channels, and participation in key industry events.

Matteo Matarazzo, General Manager, European IWT Platform said: “As coordinator of the project, we are particularly grateful to the European Commission for the trust, and very excited to be starting working with our Consortium partners on it. Achieving by 2035 the full digitalisation of our environment is fundamental to guarantee a future-proof IWT sector that continues serving the economy and society, and in order to achieve this objective, a clear roadmap and implementation plan of the relevant steps and responsibilities of all concerned actors is necessary. With our involvement in DiVINE, we intend to contribute to identifying this path, to the benefit of the whole sector.’’

About DiVINE

DiVINE (Digitalisation Vision Inland Navigation Europe) is a 36-month project coordinated by the European IWT Platform. The project supports the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) in implementing the Digitalisation Vision for Inland Waterway Transport, aiming to accelerate the digital transformation of the sector by 2035.

Consortium partners: European IWT Platform, Ecorys, Danube Commission, EICB, viadonau, and Circle Group.

Contacts: info@inlandwaterwaytransport.eu