Maritime & Ports Innovation Network
This collaborative community focused on decarbonising industries including maritime.
Following the success of the Decarbonising Ports & Harbours Innovation Network held from 2020 to 2022, this collaborative community focused on decarbonising industries including maritime from 2022 to 2023. To discuss maritime and ports further, please contact the transport team.
We recognise that since the inception of our original programme in 2019, a lot has happened, we left the EU, we entered a pandemic and a financial crisis (not just because we left the EU) and we reaffirmed our commitment to decarbonising our industries including maritime.
Ports remain central to work we aim to achieve over the next year however, it was decided to expand the remit of the Innovation Network to include the wider maritime sector but with the same focus on decarbonisation and building back greener.
In the maritime sector, decarbonising remains the largest innovation challenge we face, but other imposing challenges face the sector. These include the move towards automation, and digitisation, and striving to improve productivity and safety.
Through a range of activities such as engagement events, Innovation Exchange challenge launches, case studies and more, the Maritime & Ports Innovation Network will explore with the community the cross-sectorial challenges and opportunities as well as showcase findings to help the sector’s stakeholders to succeed in their transition to a more productive, safer and cleaner way of working.
The network has also launched the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast – a series dedicated to discussing technologies and solutions developed and used in the Ports and Maritime sectors to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.
Focus Areas
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We are extending our existing substantive community and would welcome new members from the smaller or mid sized Port owners / operators; those in the fishing or leisure sectors; academic and research bodies; and of course technology developers particularly in decarbonising, digitising and automating.
We will be engaging with UKSHORE and are keen to support their engagement with the maritime sector on their planned consultations over the next year.
We are planning a series of ‘Engage with Innovate UK Business Connect’ type podcasts to help introduce latest thinking and activity on a range of technologies which have great potential to be game changers in the industry. Through our extensive range of networks we will explore with industry experts subjects such as 5G, battery storage, hydrogen and alternate fuels and other subjects of interest.
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We will be looking to develop a series of case studies from the UK and internationally where cutting edge approaches to a variety of our core interest challenges are being developed.
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We will be exploring in depth approaches to addressing opportunities in subjects such as green shipping corridors, greening inland shipping, developing energy systems and preparing for autonomy.
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Make sure to read our Decarbonising Ports & Harbours: Industry Insights & Vision report which contains a collection of knowledge and insights shared by the Maritime & Ports Innovation Network and curated by our experts in the maritime transport and clean energy systems sector.
We want to explore means to present the wide range of cutting edge technology solutions being developed in the UK to showcase British ingenuity and how the UK is taking a leading role in transitioning towards a cleaner, safer and more productive maritime sector.
For the latest Maritime & Ports updates and latest activities, please visit Innovate UK Business Connect Transport team as well as the the Infrastructure team website pages.
In response to the UK’s commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050, we have also developed a landscape map of the UK port owners, operators, technology providers, industry stakeholders as well as solution providers. Explore and join the interactive landscape map.
In summer 2022, representatives from Innovate UK Business Connect’s Maritime & Ports Innovation Network met with key organisations at the heart of Singapore’s maritime innovation ecosystem. Read the case study from our visit here.
Singapore’s Opportunities for Maritime Innovation
In summer 2022, representatives from Innovate UK Business Connect’s Maritime & Ports Innovation Network met with key organisations at the heart of Singapore’s maritime innovation ecosystem.
Read more
Related Opportunities
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7
Opens: 11/03/2026 Closes: 15/07/2026
Funding for feasibility studies, pre-deployment testing, and real-world trials of clean maritime technologies for UK vessels, infrastructure, and/or skills.
More Information
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Electric Power
Opens: 26/03/2026 Closes: 16/09/2026
Up to £150m total funding across 3 strands: this strand will fund the development and build of innovative 100% battery electric vessels, accompanying charging infrastructure, and shore power systems including related energy infrastructure and vessel upgrades.
More Information
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Energy Efficiency
Opens: 26/03/2026 Closes: 16/09/2026
Up to £150m total funding across 3 strands: this strand will fund the development and build of innovative vessel energy efficiency technology and any accompanying innovative infrastructure upgrades.
More Information
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Alternative Fuels
Opens: 26/03/2026 Closes: 16/09/2026
Up to £150m total funding across 3 strands: this strand will fund the development and build of innovative alternative fuel vessels and accompanying port refuelling infrastructure.
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: EU Missions - Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
2026 calls close Oct 2026: 2027 calls close Sep/Oct 2027
Horizon Europe funding for climate-neutral and smart cities, with up to €12m available for the largest calls
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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.
More Information
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Innovate UK exhibiting electrification technologies at Advanced Engineering 2024
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Related programmes
UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions
Harnessing the UK’s research and innovation excellence to support and reduce the UK maritime industry’s carbon emissions, through a system-wide approach to develop and implement clean maritime solutions.
Innovation Networks
Through our Innovation Network programme, we’ve united some of the best minds and greatest thinkers from across the UK in areas of innovation, development and new technologies.