April 15th, 2026 | Vienna & Online
On April 15th, 2026, the MarLEN Project had the pleasure of participating in the HARPOONERS General Assembly, an inspiring appointment that highlighted the joint synergy commitment and close collaboration between the two EU-funded initiatives driving maritime innovation toward a sustainable future.
The session opened with an insightful introduction by Giulia Butera and Luna Del Pizzo from APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea, who presented MarLEN’s mission in a nutshell: to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster synergies across EU programmes, and accelerate the transition to zero-emission technologies in the maritime transport sector.
A key moment of the meeting was the preview of the 2nd Call for Proposals under the ZEWT Partnership, shared by the project coordinator Jöran Ritzke from Projektträger Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, offering participants valuable insights on upcoming funding opportunities supporting decarbonisation research.
Building the MarLEN Synergies Network
The presentation continued with an update on the growing MarLEN Synergies Network — a structured cooperation framework designed to create long-lasting partnerships and joint activities among European projects. To date, MarLEN has engaged in 20+ bilateral meetings and maintains active collaboration with six EU-funded initiatives: BlueBARGE, AI4COPSEC, PATH2ZERO, TRUSTEE, HARPOONERS, and SMARTDEC.
Beyond project-level cooperation, MarLEN is also working to expand strategic cluster partnerships, with GREENET and the BlueTech Cluster Alliance providing flagship examples of how connectivity across thematic communities enhances impact and knowledge sharing throughout Europe’s maritime innovation landscape.
A Strategic Approach to Communication and Collaboration
During the event, Deborah Caruso from Magellan Circle presented MarLEN’s communication strategy for building synergies, a cornerstone of the project’s holistic approach to ecosystem engagement. The strategy illustrates how coordinated storytelling and targeted communication channels — including social media campaigns and the website’s Synergies with Other Initiatives section — can serve as powerful tools to connect technical partners, port authorities, governmental bodies, research institutions, and civil society.
This integrated approach stands as a replicable good practice for other EU projects seeking to amplify dissemination, foster intersectoral dialogue, and enhance visibility across maritime and logistics communities.
Shared Vision and Next Steps
MarLEN extends sincere appreciation to the HARPOONERS team for their warm welcome and for cultivating such a valuable space for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The interaction reaffirmed MarLEN’s core commitment to advancing research, innovation, and cross-sector cooperation in support of Europe’s climate-neutral and smart maritime transition.
The consortium looks forward to continuing this partnership and exploring upcoming opportunities for joint actions, workshops, and collaborative content exchanges across the EU maritime innovation ecosystem.
Are you part of a project aligned with MarLEN’s objectives? We invite you to get in touch and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
