Prospective evaluation of nuclear power potential for shipping (ZEWT Partnership)

Overview

Funding for research and innovation projects assessing the feasibility, safety, and environmental impact of nuclear power—including small modular reactors (SMRs)—for zero-emission commercial shipping. Targets consortia of industry, research organizations, NGOs, and regulatory bodies to develop technical, economic, and regulatory roadmaps.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., businesses, research institutions, NGOs, public bodies) from eligible countries. Participation of stakeholders across the maritime and nuclear sectors is expected.

Funding Details

Maximum grant amount: 13,500,000 EUR per project. Funding is provided as a lump sum.

What Is Funded

• Technical feasibility studies on SMRs and advanced nuclear technologies for maritime use, including integration with ship designs and lifecycle assessments.
• Economic viability analyses, including cost-benefit comparisons with conventional and renewable fuels, infrastructure requirements, and lifecycle cost mapping.
• Safety and security protocols, cybersecurity risks, crew training, and emergency response measures.
• Environmental impact assessments, including GHG emissions, nuclear waste management, marine ecosystem effects, and damage scenarios.
• Regulatory and legal gap analyses, with recommendations for international maritime and nuclear frameworks (e.g., SOLAS, IAEA).
• Development of a skills strategy and R&I roadmap for nuclear-powered shipping.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Projects must target Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7–9.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-12-14
• Deadline: 2027-04-13T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must adhere to page limits and formatting requirements outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting on results to the European Partnership on Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) for KPI monitoring.
• Compliance with lump sum funding rules, including financial and operational capacity requirements.
• Potential restrictions on ownership transfer or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years post-project.

Geographic Scope & Language

Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Application language: English.

Notes

• Projects must align with EU added value and long-term competitiveness in nuclear-powered vessel technologies.
• Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data is mandatory if satellite-based services are employed.
• Proposals must address all listed aspects (technical, economic, safety, environmental, regulatory) to be considered.