PROJECT 02
ZEV Innovation
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ZEVinnovation
Strengthening transnational cooperation and tech transfer in the development of Electric Vessels in SME
WE WANT TO:
- To work for a sustainable network and the establishment of an electric vessels’ development hub
- Connect multidisciplinary partners coming from both public, private, academia and NGOs/ cluster
- We hope to establish fruitful collaboration on a transnational level with relevant stakeholders and to include actors from Bergen & Vestlandet
The global maritime industry market has undergone disruptive changes over the past ten years, changes that have especially impacted the European shipbuilding industry. Addressing such challenges, VINCO Innovation has gotten the honour of taking part in a project collaboration with an international project across the EEA as an expertise partner. Together with sectoral partners from Croatia, Poland and Norway, we will work towards a strengthening of the transnational innovation eco-system through the establishment of sustainable networks focusing on collaborative development, creating the establishment of an electric vessels development hub.
Electric Vessels (EV)
Development Hub
One of the changes facing the European shipbuilding industry shows through a recorded negative trend in global demand for new ships in all segments, except passenger vessels. Asia also proves its dominance within the shipbuilding industry, while Europe has put its focus on developing and producing passenger and specialised (high-tech) vessels. The solution to the challenges is the design of new solutions and development of new technologies, with environmental protection regulations being one of the main factors that direct the further development of the industry.
The aim of this project is to establish a sustainable and efficient network for the development of electric vessels that will bring together relevant stakeholders from the project area. To do this, it will be established a sustainable network and implemented pilot programs focusing on the collaborative development and market uptake of innovative electric vessels. Building on existing expertise, the capacities of EEA countries that have a strong maritime tradition and current pioneering initiatives in the development of similar vessels are connected. Here Norway holds a strong position in the development of electric vessels. Through this network Norway’s expertise will be transferred to other countries and thus contribute to the shared benefit created from common knowledge-sharing. We are solving common challenges through shared solutions.
Outcomes of the project
The specific outcome of the project is the development of an effective technology foresight model, establishment of a pilot electric vessels development hub, and the implementation of pilot projects such as: virtual innovation hub, joint product development, start-up creation and scale up, expert exchange and market uptake initiatives.
Timeframe
The project has a 3.5-year timeframe, going across 2020-2024, having December 31st 2023 as an estimated end date of implementation.
Project consortium
Cross sectoral partners from both Croatia, Poland and Norway are involved in the project, including Center of Technology Transfer LLC, Polish Maritime Cluster, and from Norway ÅKP AS and VINCO Innovation who are expert partners in the project.
Link to the project webpage:
www.zevinnovation.eu
Projects Funded By
The project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through
the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation.
The Fund for Regional Cooperation supports projects tackling common European challenges through regional cross-border and transnational cooperation.
The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The Grants have two goals – to contribute to a more equal Europe, both socially and economically – and to strengthen the relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the 15 beneficiary countries in Europe.
Green and Blue
Growth Potential
- The green and blue growth potential
- Arena for knowledge sharing
There are several aspects into how this development hub brings value, and especially in which it contributes to problem solving of the changes and related challenges in the maritime industry.
First of all, the hub creates an arena for knowledge sharing, which brings upon important contributions to innovation levels, which again enhances each party’s competitiveness. By improving mutual knowledge and understanding, the likelihood of success increases for both individual and common success. This development hub also increases the business development levels for both enterprises and the industry, as well as facilitates for a larger potential in early stage developments.
An important aspect for this development hub is the green and blue growth potential, and it answers to all three pillars of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental) for a sustainable future.
Green growth is defined as “growth that is efficient in its use of natural resources, clean in that it minimises pollution and environmental impacts, and resilient in that it accounts for natural hazards and the role of environmental management and natural capital in preventing physical disasters. And this growth needs to be inclusive.” (World Bank, u.d.)
While blue growth is seen as “sustainable growth based on marine resources”, thus including the sustainable growth in marine and maritime sectors (Innovation Norway, 2020).
The added value
of the project
We are contributing to a sustainable development of the maritime industry
Looking at this, the added value of this project is that it has recognized the narrow area of development of EVs as one of the most propitious development areas within the maritime industry in the EEA area. Here Norway serves as a global leader in the development of small and medium-sized EVs and such represents the ideal leader for further development and knowledge transfer in the wider EEA region. By gathering key multisectoral stakeholders, it will be possible to implement cost-efficient initiatives with good visibility and impact on interested businesses, professionals and scientific communities. In such way the project will be beneficial for both the Norwegian and EEA economy by directly stimulating Green and Blue Growth based on increased innovations in SMEs, thus facilitating for the sustainable development of shipbuilding and answers to relevant challenges faced by the maritime industry.
By being part of this we are contributing to a sustainable development of the maritime industry, by creating a platform for knowledge sharing and contributions to common challenges. By being part of this we are facilitating for sustainable innovation.
We are looking forward to the deployment of this project together with other project partners and we hope to establish fruitful collaboration with relevant stakeholders from Bergen area /Vestlandet.
More about the project can be found here.
The project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment.
More information about EEA and Norway funds can be found here: www.eeagrants.org / www.norwaygrants.org.
