Novel holistic intelligent tools for variable retrofit and decarbonised scenarios (ZEWT Partnership)
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme – Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Funding Amount
Up to €4.0M
Deadline
04/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Novel holistic intelligent tools for variable retrofit and decarbonised scenarios (ZEWT Partnership) Call?
Grant Description
The call supports the development and demonstration of novel holistic intelligent digital design tools for retrofitting existing ships under variable decarbonisation scenarios. It addresses current gaps where retrofit tools work in isolation without multidisciplinary optimisation by integrating multiple low-carbon propulsion concepts, life-cycle assessment, AI-based multi-objective strategies, and existing stability and loading instruments. Projects will perform model-scale validation, environme...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to:
• Deliver novel holistic intelligent tools for variable retrofit scenarios and new operational modes, demonstrated on a retrofit ship test case.
• Propose measures to overcome current design tool limitations by explicitly accounting for interferences and mutual influences among onboard retrofit systems.
• Facilitate retrofitting of the EU’s aging fleet and enhance competitiveness of European shipyards, marine equipment providers and repair yards in the maritime green technology sector.
• Provide cost-effective retrofit solutions supporting ship owners in making the European fleet climate neutral while maintaining market competitiveness.
• Accelerate regulatory approval processes by developing best practice guidance and easy-to-customise retrofit strategies, thereby reducing commercial deployment risks for ship owners.
• Supply KPI data and progress reports to the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport Partnership for monitoring and benchmarking purposes.
• Deliver novel holistic intelligent tools for variable retrofit scenarios and new operational modes, demonstrated on a retrofit ship test case.
• Propose measures to overcome current design tool limitations by explicitly accounting for interferences and mutual influences among onboard retrofit systems.
• Facilitate retrofitting of the EU’s aging fleet and enhance competitiveness of European shipyards, marine equipment providers and repair yards in the maritime green technology sector.
• Provide cost-effective retrofit solutions supporting ship owners in making the European fleet climate neutral while maintaining market competitiveness.
• Accelerate regulatory approval processes by developing best practice guidance and easy-to-customise retrofit strategies, thereby reducing commercial deployment risks for ship owners.
• Supply KPI data and progress reports to the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport Partnership for monitoring and benchmarking purposes.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
1. Develop an intelligent digital design tool that holistically integrates multiple decarbonisation solutions (alternative fuels, auxiliary propulsion, renewables) and explores modular/serial retrofit options to reduce costs.
2. Account for interferences and mutual influences among retrofit systems (space, payload, safety, electrical and stability constraints) through fully coupled multidisciplinary optimisation.
3. Incorporate variable decarbonisation scenarios reflecting ongoing regulatory processes (IMO, EU, UNFCCC, ES-TRIN) and uncertainties in carbon-neutral fuel cost and availability.
4. Integrate existing loading and stability software/data packages for automated checks on weight distribution and hull strength.
5. Evaluate operational mode changes and embed human and organisational risk assessments.
6. Include a cradle-to-grave life-cycle analysis covering design, operation, maintenance and scrapping phases.
7. Perform preliminary validation at model scale with comparative environmental impact assessments (biodiversity, air quality, noise).
8. Execute six virtual demonstrations—one per ZEWT ship type—delivering final optimised retrofit designs verified under defined operational profiles.
9. Ensure participation of ship owners/operators in demonstrations to pave the way for real-world market deployment.
10. Report outcomes and KPI data to the ZEWT partnership.
1. Develop an intelligent digital design tool that holistically integrates multiple decarbonisation solutions (alternative fuels, auxiliary propulsion, renewables) and explores modular/serial retrofit options to reduce costs.
2. Account for interferences and mutual influences among retrofit systems (space, payload, safety, electrical and stability constraints) through fully coupled multidisciplinary optimisation.
3. Incorporate variable decarbonisation scenarios reflecting ongoing regulatory processes (IMO, EU, UNFCCC, ES-TRIN) and uncertainties in carbon-neutral fuel cost and availability.
4. Integrate existing loading and stability software/data packages for automated checks on weight distribution and hull strength.
5. Evaluate operational mode changes and embed human and organisational risk assessments.
6. Include a cradle-to-grave life-cycle analysis covering design, operation, maintenance and scrapping phases.
7. Perform preliminary validation at model scale with comparative environmental impact assessments (biodiversity, air quality, noise).
8. Execute six virtual demonstrations—one per ZEWT ship type—delivering final optimised retrofit designs verified under defined operational profiles.
9. Ensure participation of ship owners/operators in demonstrations to pave the way for real-world market deployment.
10. Report outcomes and KPI data to the ZEWT partnership.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Funding under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) using a lump sum grant model (Horizon-AG-LS).
• Single-stage submission; opening: 06 May 2025; deadline: 04 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Adhere to proposal page limits and layout as specified in Annex A & E of the Horizon Europe General Annexes and Part B of the application form.
• Consortia must include participants from eligible EU Member States or Associated Countries (Annex B); certain non-associated countries may participate under specific provisions.
• Financial and operational capacity and exclusion rules per Annex C; evaluation criteria and thresholds per Annex D; processes per Annex F.
• Eligible costs calculated as lump sums under the July 2021 Simplified Costs Decision.
• Use of standard application and evaluation form templates; compliance with Model Grant Agreement rules and Funding & Tenders Portal guidance.
• No additional call-specific conditions.
• Single-stage submission; opening: 06 May 2025; deadline: 04 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Adhere to proposal page limits and layout as specified in Annex A & E of the Horizon Europe General Annexes and Part B of the application form.
• Consortia must include participants from eligible EU Member States or Associated Countries (Annex B); certain non-associated countries may participate under specific provisions.
• Financial and operational capacity and exclusion rules per Annex C; evaluation criteria and thresholds per Annex D; processes per Annex F.
• Eligible costs calculated as lump sums under the July 2021 Simplified Costs Decision.
• Use of standard application and evaluation form templates; compliance with Model Grant Agreement rules and Funding & Tenders Portal guidance.
• No additional call-specific conditions.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:04/09/2025
Application period has ended
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