Maritime
As an island nation the UK has traditionally been a leading player in the global maritime industry.
Maritime
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The maritime industry is critical to the UK economy with approximately 95% of all imports and exports transported by sea, including 25% of the UK’s energy supply, and 48% of the country’s food supplies. Maritime business services directly contribute £2 billion gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy; this is expanded to £5 billion GVA if the wider impacts of the sector are considered.
In addition to freight and goods movements the UK has a significant maritime tourism and leisure industry which was valued at £3.12 billion in 2017. The UK has a thriving and growing cruise sector with 1.96 million cruises sold in the UK in 2017, half of which started at a British port.
The UK is also a world leader in maritime services such as insurance, regulation and certification with London being the global hub for all such services.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition
To celebrate the success of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, Innovate UK Business Connect, on behalf of the Department for Transport and Innovate UK, has collated a series of videos into an online showcase highlighting all the innovative projects winning a share of the £23m funding. These projects represent some of the best examples of UK organisations being world leaders in clean smart maritime technologies of the future which will springboard the UK maritime sector’s transition towards Net Zero.
Browse the videos here.
Related Opportunities
iX Challenge - Preserve Celtic Sea FLOW biodiversity via prediction of marine conditions
Opens: 24/02/2026 Closes: 07/04/2026
For the Love of the Sea are seeking an innovative solution which can provide a multi layered monitoring system for their sea farm. By analysing data from wind, tide and currents; the system will help to identify conditions that lead to damage and support timely…
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Innovation Exchange challenge: ORE Catapult Launch Academy National 6
Opens: 29/01/2026 Closes: 25/03/2026
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s flagship accelerator for offshore wind innovation, designed to support a cohort of up to 10 high-growth UK SMEs.
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: Climate, Energy and Mobility (Cluster 5)
Various closing dates from Mar 2026 to Sep 2027
Funding of up to €100m per call to fight climate change, primarily by improving energy and transport sectors.
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European Space Agency: Call For Proposals - Responsible Fishing
First stage application required by 7 April 2026
ESA seeks space-based solutions to improve monitoring, safety and sustainability of the fishing industry.
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UK Defence Innovation Competition: Innovation Support to Operations Phase 3 (Cycle 7)
Opens: 23/02/2026 Closes: 12/05/2026
Seeking cost competitive, innovative solutions across seven new challenge areas covering Unmanned Aerial Systems, telemetry, and autonomous navigation/guidance.
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: EU Missions - Restore our Ocean and Waters
2026 calls close 23 Sep 2026; 2027 calls close 21 Sep 2027
Restoring the health of the ocean, seas, and inland waters by 2030, with funding of €1m-€8m per call.