The EU’s technology platform for maritime affairs, Waterborne, launched a new collaboration platform last week for inland waterway transport projects – the IWT Projects Cooperation Platform. This platform brings together 37 EU-funded research and innovation projects to drive progress toward a more sustainable and efficient shipping sector on Europe’s inland waterways.

The IWT Projects Cooperation Platform serves as a central hub where project leaders and consortia can exchange knowledge, create synergies, and coordinate strategies. The focus is on key challenges such as zero-emission technology, digitalization, climate-adapted infrastructure, logistics solutions, and skills development.

By gathering projects in a shared arena, stakeholders can overcome market barriers, support research, and influence future policy decisions. The platform also enhances visibility for ongoing projects, with plans to organize joint events to share results and build stronger networks.

Jaap Gebraad, Secretary-General of Waterborne, emphasizes the importance of collaboration:
“We welcome the establishment of the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) Projects Cooperation Platform. The cooperation between the different projects in the field of inland waterway transport contributes to creating synergies, avoiding duplication of efforts and ultimately increases awareness and impact of the projects concerned. In addition, it offers a unique database of knowledge in terms of state-of-the-art of research and development initiatives, which in turn provides input to the Waterborne Technology Platform for updating our Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas. And last but not least, it clearly underlines the added value of cooperation, since only together we will be able to set course towards a resilient, competitive and sustainable future.”

Martin Quispel, Project Leader at the Expertise Innovation Centre for Inland Barging (EICB), sees the platform as a vital resource:
“This unique platform serves as a one-stop-shop portal showcasing ongoing European projects in the field of research and innovation in inland waterway transport. As coordinator of the EU funded PLATINA4Action project, we are honoured to coordinate and support this valuable platform for the coming years and to work together with researchers across Europe. We very much welcome you to visit the website, follow the dedicated LinkedIn channel and to actively participate in shaping the future of the European inland navigation.”

To the platform