No change in governmental R&D funds for the maritime sector

The Swedish Transport Administration shall invest at least 55 million SEK in research and innovation in the maritime sector in 2018. The amount is the same as previous years.

An appropriation is an annual direction from the government that contains regulations and guidelines for the authorities. The Swedish Transport Administration's appropriation for 2018, in the field of communication, states: "Overall, at least 55 million SEK shall be used for research and innovation in the maritime area ... / ... Decisions on funding for research and innovation in the maritime sector shall be done in collaboration with the Swedish Maritime Administration."

The Swedish Maritime Administration has earlier stated that at least 105 MSEK, preferably 200 million Swedish kronor, is needed for maritime research and innovation. The Swedish Transport Administration has said that the level of ambition for shipping-related research and innovation needs to increase.

Nordic comparison
Compared to our neighbouring countries, the earmarked research funding for shipping is significantly lower in Sweden. For example, Norway's Research Council, last year allocated 169 million Norwegian kroner for projects in its program MAROFF, Maritime operations and offshore operations.

In Denmark in 2016, 85 applications for maritime research received a total of 65 million Danish kroner. Denmark, also has earmarked government funding for maritime research in the four-year partnership project Blue INNOship. The project is in its final phase, but work has begun for a continuation in Blue INNOship II, where the focus will be more on digitization and the smart vessels of the future.