On June 19, FEPORT attended the Stakeholder Consultation Event on the 2026 Calls for Proposals under the Innovation Fund.
Aside from allowing stakeholders to provide feedback regarding the design of the IF calls, the Commission also provided information on the upcoming calls scheduled for 2026. For example, a maritime call will open in December 2026 alongside an SME call to be published the same month. The SME call will have 2 cut-off dates with the first deadline for applications falling in March 2027 while the second is set for December.
The Event featured a specific session on the maritime sector which included a presentation by the associations of the Maritime expert group – ESPO, CLIA, ECSA, SEA Europe and Waterborne TP. The associations provided a holistic overview of the needs related to the greening of the maritime sector and ports, focussing on questions related to ship construction and design, the availability of green fuels and the greening of port operations and equipment. The associations also expressed their support for dedicated maritime calls as we need a systematic maritime ecosystem approach. During the meeting, FEPORT supported the call of the maritime associations and highlighted the need for supporting investments in the electrification of port operations through the rollout of battery-electric cargo handling equipment and shore-side electricity.
