Overview
The European Union Transport Policy goals of "efficient accessible and competitive transport systems which are essential to growth, employment and EU competitiveness" and "a high level of safety and environmental protection" call for an invigorated, structured cluster approach in the maritime industry, notably in the field of innovation, research and development. To this end, main stakeholders from within the Maritime Industries Forum (MIF) decided to establish a platform for continuous dialogue between all stakeholders (including the EU and national government institutions), called the Advisory Council for Maritime Transport Research in Europe (ACMARE). This was later renamed as WATERBORNE TP (Technology Platform). Its aim is to establish consensus on future research directions and support mobilisation of the necessary financial resources.
The primary missions of Waterborne TP are to:
- establish a continuous dialogue between all stakeholders in the maritime transport sector on R&D;
- contribute to the widest possible consensus regarding R&D and to focusing of efforts and resources;
- develop common medium- and long-term R&D Vision and a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA);
- contribute to the appropriate mobilisation and allocation of the necessary financial resources (private/regional/national/EU sources);
- support education and training to maintain the high-skilled workforce in Europe;
- accommodate the social expectations regarding clean and safe waterborne transport.
WATERBORNE TP is a technology platform. Its website contains 21 documents available for download. These comprise 11 final reports / policy papers / brochures, 2 draft reports and 8 presentations. All documents are downloadable free. The user interface and all documents are in English.