1 May 2024

Maritime Minister Lord Davies has announced an £8 million funding boost to put the UK at the forefront of cutting-edge maritime technology. It is recognised that AI will play a large part in vessel and ports operations. From improving passage planning to improve time and fuel efficiency to fully autonomous ships and everything in between as well as improving shore side infrastructure we are seeing the technology already playing its part in the marine industry. 

The new fund known as ‘The Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund’ will kickstart feasibility studies to develop smart shipping technologies such as AI, robotics, and autonomous vessels. The winning projects will also require match funding – leveraging further investment from the private sector.

This £8m fund forms part of the wider £206 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, announced in March 2022.

The aim of this competition is to fund detailed feasibility studies for innovative technology demonstrations of scalable smart shipping technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Smart shipping technologies within the scope of this competition are detailed in the specific themes section under the scope tab.

Your proposal must conduct a technical and economic feasibility study associated with the development and demonstration of on-vessel technologies, infrastructure technologies or both.

Your project’s total costs must be between £75,000 and £750,000.

The competition closes to applications at 11am on the 26 June 2024. There will be an online briefing event held on the 1 May, registration is free and can be found here - Webinar Registration - Zoom

Full details on how to apply, eligibility, and scope please visit the innovation funding service website here - Competition overview - Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)