How do we turn European ambition into real innovation? Keeping our maritime manufacturing industry competitive today, and ready for what comes next!

Through the Innovation at Sea conference (SMM Hamburg, 1 September 2026), maritime stakeholders are brought together to discuss the strategy and promising developments in the ambitious hands-on Horizon project CirclesOfLife.

Dario Bazargan clearly states: ‘𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 for 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦. 𝘛𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺’.

The conference is honoured by the contributions of prominent speakers and panel members exploring the shaping of future-proof maritime policies such as the European Industrial Maritime Strategy (EIMS). They deliberate on the key topics: collaboration, regulation, and sustainable and circular practices across the entire maritime value chain. The first panel focuses on the role of the European Industrial Maritime Strategy (EIMS) regarding maritime innovation, and the conditions, enablers which are needed to turn EU ambition into action.

Panel 1

• Dario Bazargan – Policy Officer in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW)
• Christophe Tytgat – Secretary General SEA Europe
• Thecla Bodewes – CEO and owner of Thecla Bodewes Group
• Jaap Gebraad – Secretary General Waterborne Technology Platform
• Jon Steinlein – Advisor Technology, Innovation and Regulatory Affairs at the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM)
• Moderator: Luc Kronenberg

Jaap Gebraad (Waterborne TP) emphasised that the focus should now be on the implementation of the EIMS. Within Waterborne TP, technology roadmaps are currently being developed to inform the EU about the technology developments, innovation and research needed to strengthen the European waterborne sector, including the maritime manufacturing industry.

From a yard and maritime industry perspective, CEO Thecla Bodewes underlines the importance of the EU making opportunities available to the regions. She accurately summarises the challenge: ‘We need to understand which barriers exist before we can discuss them.’ She also substantiates that we should not focus solely on the innovation itself, but also consider the broader economic conditions, including the viability of the business cases.

Jon Steinlein also shares that he is highly involved in the IMO and emphasises the strong relevance of the connection between the EIMS and the IMO.

Stressing the importance of Research and Development, Christophe Tytgat is adamant about: ‘𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵. 𝘞𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦.’

Hands-on support for the maritime sector
As shared during the first panel, we need to turn strategy intro action, while making sure we build on and strengthen the innovative initiatives. One of the initiatives is the innovative project CirclesOfLife which focuses on sustainable shipbuilding and enhancing circularity through the full lifecycle of a ship. Moderator Rosanne van Houwelingen asks the panellists to explain the need, the tool, the proof, the ecosystem:

• Why is a CirclesOfLife approach needed?
• Why does CirclesOfLife need a digital/software solution?
• Why should the results be tested in real-life case studies?
• Why does a EU stakeholder community matter for adoption and impact?

Reaching the final phase of the Horizon project, the 17 consortium members operating in 7 EU countries, can reveal the tools to be delivered.

The forefront has joined forces to develop tools to know what, where and how to measure, of the environmental footprint, thereby combining available data within a shipyard and from its suppliers for mandatory accountability in accordance with upcoming legislation.

Therefore, CirclesOfLife is strengthening tools, case studies, research into the ship recycling market in support of digital passports, and collaborative approaches to develop insights into the Shipyard Environmental Performance. These are meant to support circularity, lower emissions and improved environmental decision-making across the maritime sector.

Jorinus Kalis explains in a podcast later on the conference day: “From an engineer’s point of view, we want to know ‘how do we measure sustainability’. We have nailed the issue in cooperation with the companies involved rather than in competition, because we share the same interest. In corporate reporting for CSRD we understand how to put a number on topics such as energy consumption, CO2, dust, or water pollution, and how to relate them. As a matter of fact, yards already have these numbers. By relating them, we can improve decision-making and already benefit from easy wins.”

Panel 2

• Jorinus Kalis – Manager Process Innovation at DAMEN and project coordinator CirclesOfLife (COL)
• Stephan Wurst – Managing partner at BALance Technology Consulting GmbH (BAL)
• Matthias Krause – Manager Research and Development | Materials and fabrication at Center of Maritime Technologies gGmbH
• Cherif Belgaroui (GME) – Program Manager at Green Marine Europe
• Moderator: Rosanne van Houwelingen

Concluding conversations
Innovation alone is not enough. Its impact depends on the ability to bring maritime stakeholders together, translate knowledge into practical tools, and stimulate the adoption across the industry.

Podcast Maritiem Inside about EU Innovation at Sea | CirclesOfLife
For listeners, we can recommend the English-language episode of the SMM2026#1 podcast ‘Maritiem Inside’ by Raymon Berkhout, recorded on the lively trade fair floor, featuring Jorinus Kalis, Cherif Belgaroui and Rosanne van Houwelingen. Click this link to listen