Waterborne TP releases latest agenda

This agenda provides a long-term vision for a climate neutral economy, an innovative and competitive high-tech sector and a prosperous European society as well as addressing how to fulfil COP21 objectives.

In a first reaction, Christophe Tytgat, the secretary general of SEA Europe, which represents the European shipbuilding industry, said that SEA Europe fully supported Waterborne’s agenda. ”This agenda clearly underlines the ambitions and commitment of the European waterborne sector to contribute to addressing and solving global and societal challenges in a sustainable and social manner,” he added.

The new Strategic Research Agenda aims to transform waterborne transport in Europe and worldwide into a safer, cleaner and more secure mode of transport, eliminating all harmful emissions from the sector by 2050.

The agenda will also help the sector to develop further Europe’s leadership in blue growth activities and will contribute to sustainably untapping the potential of the oceans, seas and inland waters as a source of natural resources.

Additionally the agenda seeks to pave the way for the creation of new business models for the Blue Economy in Europe and enable the sector to better integrate shipping and inland navigation.

To fulfil these objectives, Europe’s waterborne industry will need to invest significantly in research and development activities, whilst the EC and EU member states will need to back the industry with sufficient financial incentives, such as Horizon 2020 and other funding programmes.