Overview
Waterborne TP was created in 2005 as an industry-oriented technology platform to establish a continuous dialogue between waterborne stakeholders and the EU institutions and member states. It is registered in Belgium as Waterborne Technology Platform VZW, listed as a non-profit association since 18 September 2019 under enterprise number 0734.599.806, with its office at Square de Meeus 35 in Brussels since March 2023. Its membership covers shipowners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers, classification societies, ports, inland waterway operators, blue economy actors, research organisations and universities. In January 2026 the platform reported more than 130 members from 19 EU member states and four countries associated with Horizon Europe, up from more than 120 in July 2025; Meyer Turku joined as the 130th member in September 2025. A General Assembly sets policy and approves the budget, a Board of Directors elected for two-year terms defines strategy, and a Secretariat led by the Secretary General handles daily management. Maja Novakovic was appointed Chair on 6 November 2025, Jaap Gebraad is Secretary General, and Maria Boile has been Coordinator since October 2021 and chairs the Alignment Group. The platform coordinates the private side of the Horizon Europe Co-Programmed Partnership on Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport, whose Memorandum of Understanding was signed in January 2022 and which targets zero-emission solutions for all main ship types before 2030. In January 2026 it published a proposal for a partnership under Framework Programme 10.
Stated facts & numbers
- Founded: 2005
- Legal entity: Waterborne Technology Platform VZW, non-profit association under Belgian law
- Enterprise number: 0734.599.806, registered as a non-profit since 18 September 2019
- Headquarters: Square de Meeus 35, 1000 Brussels
- Chair: Maja Novakovic (Everllence), appointed 6 November 2025 for two years
- Secretary General: Jaap Gebraad
- Coordinator: Maria Boile, in the role since October 2021, re-appointed November 2025
- Members: More than 130, from 19 EU member states and four Horizon Europe associated countries (January 2026)
- Membership fee: EUR 3,000 per year as of 2020
- Main programme: Co-Programmed Partnership on Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport under Horizon Europe, MoU signed January 2022
- Thematic groups: Vessel Technologies and Operations, Port Ecosystems, Blue Economy
In the news
- We’re pleased to welcome Project TRUSTEE as EU Network Partner of the Waterborne Days 2027! ⚓ The TRUSTEE project is working to support the transition to zero-emission water transport (ZEWT) by 2050. By developing evidence-based scenarios by 2030 and 2050, and assessing promising technologies and identifying barriers to deployment, TRUSTEE aims to provide stakeholders with the knowledge and recommendations needed to accelerate this transition. WaterborneTP Days bring together public and private stakeholders from across the
- Scaling up innovation requires a systemic approach. ⚓ The results of the EU Innovation Fund 2025 Net-Zero Technologies Call are an encouraging step towards accelerating the deployment of innovative technologies in the European waterborne sector. However, three priorities will be essential to turn these opportunities into sector-wide progress: ▶️ Funding opportunities for all segments of shipping: The EU Innovation Fund provides opportunities to further upscale and deploy European innovations, but its eligibility criteria
- Adopting the Cruise Roadmap: MEYER WERFT As a leading shipyard specialising in highly complex ships, especially cruise vessels, MEYER WERFT brings together suppliers, research partners and shipowners to develop and integrate new technologies into safe, reliable and efficient ships. As MEYER WERFT highlights, no single company can deliver the transition to climate-neutral shipping alone. From alternative fuels, propulsion and digital systems to port and energy infrastructure, progress depends on aligning technological
- The future of the European waterborne sector depends on collaboration. Let’s shape it together at the Waterborne Days 2027! ⚓ Registration is now open! Join us in Brussels on 16–17 March 2027 for the Waterborne Days, organised by the WaterborneTP. Bringing together public and private stakeholders from across the European waterborne sector, the event offers a platform to exchange ideas, explore emerging developments and discuss how innovation can be translated into impact. What to expect: 🔹 Exchange with experts: Connect with
- We are pleased to welcome Bureau Veritas as a Bronze Sponsor of Waterborne Days 2027! As one of the world’s leading ship classification societies and offshore safety and verification bodies, Bureau Veritas brings global expertise and understanding of supply chains and the blue economy. It also supports the maritime sector in navigating the energy transition, helping to ensure safe, sustainable and high-performing operations. Bringing together expertise from across the European waterborne ecosystem, the WaterborneTP Days 2027
- Turning hydrogen innovation into impact requires more than technological progress. It also takes the right funding and collaboration to bring solutions from research and demonstration to scale-up and deployment. For the European waterborne sector, synergies between the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (CHP), the Zero Emission Waterborne (ZEWT) Partnership and other EU, national and regional funding programmes are essential to accelerate the development and uptake of zero-emission technologies. ⚓ How these synergies work in practice,
- Waterborne’s Technology Roadmaps, particularly the Blue Economy roadmap, has a key role to play in the future of the Arctic. On 20 October, the European Commission presented its New Strategy for the Arctic, highlighting priorities ranging from security and resilience, climate action and sustainable economic development to creating opportunities for people and communities in the Arctic. With its nine Technology Roadmaps, WaterborneTP has identified key technological pathways for the European waterborne sector, from research
- Europe’s technology leadership starts with a strong, interconnected waterborne ecosystem. ⚓ Maintaining Europe’s position as a global frontrunner requires close collaboration between its different actors. WaterborneTP Days 2027 brings this ecosystem together. On 16–17 March 2027, public and private stakeholders,- including sector experts, researchers and policymakers, will meet at The EGG Brussels to exchange insights and address key challenges related to competitiveness, resilience and sustainability. We would like to thank
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