By
Alex Smith |
Meyer Turku is to lead a €100 million ($113 million) project to develop carbon-neutral technological solutions for cruise ships after receiving finance from Business Finland, which aims to increase research, development and innovation investments in Finland.
The eventual goal of the NEcOLEAP project will be to develop a climate-neutral cruise ship concept by 2025 and to achieve carbon-neutral shipbuilding by 2030. Meyer Turku estimates that one climate-neutral ship order will create approximately 9,500 jobs for the shipyard and its ecosystem of partners. The impact of the order on Meyer’s net sales would be approximately €1 billion ($1.13 billion).
“The research and development topics will focus on four areas: the cruise ship itself, the shipyard’s operations, the introduction of smart technologies and the open-minded professionals of the future,” said Ilkka Rytkölä, project director at Meyer Turku. “In the partnership network, we will create an opportunity for thousands of Finnish experts to innovate and to be a part of something entirely new.”
Business Finland has contributed €20 million to Meyer Turku for the project, while the shipbuilder has itself contributed €30 million. A further €50 million has been set aside by Business Finland for companies, research institutes and universities involved in the ecosystem. The project will contribute to Business Finland’s goal of raising the share of research and development in the Finnish economy from 2.5 to four per cent of GDP.
“With the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility funding, leading companies can start significant green transition-related research and development initiatives in Finland,” said Karin Wikman, chief advisor at Business Finland. “These initiatives have a major impact on the well-being of Finns in terms of employment and business development. Meyer Turku’s NEcOLEAP project reinforces the know-how and partner network of the Finnish maritime cluster as well as strengthens global competitiveness. We see the financing of leading companies as a viable way to build and develop Finland's future.”
The NEcOLEAP project will make use of Meyer Turku’s current cooperation network comprising of approximately 1,350 partner companies, with that figure expected to grow to around 1,500 because of the project. Universities, research institutes, large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups are all expected to participate.
“The construction of a climate-neutral cruise ship will require extensive cooperation between companies, universities, and research institutes, as well as new ways of working,” said Tapani Pulli, executive vice president of Meyer Turku. “Only in this way can we stand out in the intensifying competition of the maritime industry and maintain our leading pioneer position in the global market.”