The goal is to secure a billion-euro cruise ship order for the Turku shipyard.
€100m development project
Meyer Turku aims to develop a climate-neutral cruise ship concept by 2025, and to achieve carbon-neutral shipbuilding by 2030.
The estimated cost of the NEcOLEAP project is approximately €100m, of which Business Finland’s contribution to Meyer is €20m and Meyer Turku’s own input is €30m. Business Finland has also set aside €50m for companies, research institutes and universities involved in the ecosystem.
Vital funding
Meyer Turku said gaining access to Business Finland’s RDI funding is not only significant but vital since only innovative R&D work and continuous modernization can guarantee the yard’s competitive position in the increasingly competitive maritime industry.
The direct employment impact of securing a single climate-neutral ship order will be approximately 12,000 person-years, equivalent to approximately 9,500 jobs for the yard and its ecosystem of partners. The impact of such an order on Meyer’s net sales would be approximately €1bn, and this would have a direct impact on Finnish exports.
'With the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility funding, leading companies can start significant green transition-related R&D initiatives in Finland,' Business Finland expert Karin Wikman said.
NEcOLEAP brings together trailblazers
The research and development topics will focus on four areas: the cruise ship itself, the shipyard’s operations and the introduction of smart technologies and creating the open-minded professionals of the future, according to Ilkka Rytkölä, project director at Meyer Turku.
'In the partnership network, we will create an opportunity for thousands of Finnish experts to innovate and to be a part of something entirely new,' he said.
Meyer Turku EVP Tapani Pulli said the NEcOLEAP project's main goal will be to adapt the business toward a green transition and meet the demands of climate action together with Meyer’s partner ecosystem. This in part also will contribute to Business Finland’s goal to raise the R&D share of GDP from 2.5% to 4%.
Many parties have already expressed an interest in participating. The NEcOLEAP project’s various research areas are well suited for university and research institute projects. Research work and the results of the project will also provide direction and guidelines for future research and product development. In addition to large companies, a large number of SMEs and start-ups are expected to participate.
Also, Pulli said the the NEcOLEAP project will enable Meyer Turku to meet its customers’ strategic sustainability goals.
Major customers are Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, TUI Cruises and Costa Cruises.
Extensive cooperation network and ecosystem
The construction of a climate-neutral cruise ship will require extensive cooperation among companies, universities and research institutes, as well as new ways of working.
'In the NEcOLEAP project, we will explore new sustainable technologies that can be leveraged to develop energy and resource efficiency, automation, robotics and cybersecurity for ships and shipbuilding,' Pulli continued.
Meyer Turku has a solid existing partnership network but the funding received will enable expansion to include new areas of development. In addition to environmentally friendly energy solutions, the project will enable exploration of circular economy solutions and resource efficiency of materials. The goal is to find the most inventive solutions and innovative technologies.
Meyer Turku's cooperation network now includes about 1,350 partner companies, and with the project that figure is expected to grow to 1,500.
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