WATERBORNE DOCUMENTS 2007-2017

In the coming years, the Waterborne community will play a critical role in helping to achieve the “Europe 2020” objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We believe that research and innovation are essential to address the dual challenges of societal and economic progress. We declare that: ▪ We will deliver more extensive, integrated, efficient and sustainable water-borne transport systems and infrastructure ▪ We will provide increased support for the emerging offshore food, energy and minerals sectors ▪ We will reduce our impact on the environment ▪ We will play an important role in delivering a more competitive and sustain-able low carbon economy ▪ We will continue to prioritise safety and security within the Waterborne community To address these challenges, the Waterborne community will demonstrate strong leadership, will foster a co-operative and supportive research environment and will develop clear implementation plans.

The first WATERBORNE Strategic Research Agenda (WSRA), issued in 2007, was reviewed and updated in 2011 to reflect developments in the maritime sector and new environmental and economic challenges, since the publication of the first issue. The changes include an increased priority on CO2 reduction, the growing offshore renewable energy market and refitting existing ships to accelerate the introduction of the environmental and economic benefits of new technology. The WSRA addresses the innovation challenges in the next 15 years, summarised under the 3 pillars of the Waterborne Vision 2020: • Safe, Sustainable and Efficient Waterborne Operations • A Competitive European Maritime Industry • Manage and Facilitate Growth and Changing Trade Patterns The key priority themes for Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) are presented under these headings. Some of these themes have an impact on more than one pillar, not only the main one they are listed under. The key research themes are not stand-alone issues, but will be integrated through innovative interdisciplinary research into larger demonstrator programmes.

To achieve its objectives WATERBORNE has developed an Implementation Route Map for the WSRA (Strategic Research Agenda). This Executive Summary of the Strategic Research Agenda Implementation outlines the results of a process aimed at giving the stakeholders’ insight to the interrelation of the relevant Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) topics of the Strategic Agenda and the Vision 2020 targets. It identifies priorities and provides an idea of the scope in time and the necessary resources, as well as the possibilities of clustering in the form of Large Project Initiatives. It is a tool aiming at maximising the practical outcome of RDI resources available in the EU (Commission funding, National funding as well as Private funding). It forms a guidance document for consistent long term RDI programmes and demonstrates to politicians of both the Member States as well as the European Commission the innovative nature of the Waterborne Community.

This paper describes a medium and long term Vision in the true meaning of the word, as initiated by the ‘cluster’ of maritime industries and developed within the “Waterborne” Technology Platform. This Vision aims at categorising where the industries would like to stand by the year 2025, the ambitious targets to be met and the related innovation challenges. These targets cannot be rigid in a dynamic environment and are subject to technological as well as economic feasibility. They, therefore, represent well considered drivers and challenges for innovation towards 2025, not absolutes nor deadlines.