Innovation

The Dutch government and the European Union intend to provide additional impetus to innovation in the shipping industry by means of various subsidy arrangements and programmes. The number of shipowners submitting applications for subsidies for innovation projects within the Maritime Innovation Subsidy (SMI) package far exceeded expectations in 2008. A total of ten new projects have been initiated and proposed. For more details see the table below. In representing shipowners in the Netherlands, the KVNR is keen to promote innovation in the shipping industry. Innovation is essential in reinforcing the shipping industry‟s economic growth and competitive potential. Subsidies will ensure an accelerated rate of development and risks to investments will be reduced. The KVNR considers sharing knowledge within the maritime cluster to be indispensible to realising innovations. In order to achieve this, the KVNR seeks to improve teamwork within
the entire maritime cluster. A member of staff for innovation has been appointed by the KVNR office to support members in their subsidy applications and throughout their innovation projects.