Naples, 25 February 2025 – The Horizon Europe-funded project TRUSTEE (futuRe-proof efficienT and sUStainable dEployment of ZEWT) has officially kicked off with its inaugural meeting hosted by Fondazione ISSNOVA in Naples, Italy. The Kick-Off Meeting brought together project partners, as well as representatives from CINEA – the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency – and DG RTD, marking a significant milestone in advancing the path towards zero-emission waterborne transport (ZEWT) in Europe.
A Strategic Initiative for the Future of ZEWT
TRUSTEE is set to play a pivotal role in enabling a sustainable transition towards ZEWT by equipping decision-makers and indirect stakeholders—across policy, investment, industry, technology, and operations—with actionable insights and data-driven recommendations. Through this approach, the project will strengthen collaboration and capacity-building efforts needed to support the decarbonisation of European waterborne transport.
What TRUSTEE Will Deliver
The TRUSTEE project will provide stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate and lead the ZEWT transition through:
- Foresight scenarios for 2030 and 2050, offering projections and strategic guidance on the evolution of the ZEWT ecosystem.
- Identification of the most promising ZEWT use cases, highlighting scalable and effective pathways to reach zero-emission targets.
- Development of a multi-stakeholder assessment framework to support coherent and coordinated decision-making aligned with European climate goals.
- Delivery of actionable policy and implementation recommendations aimed at overcoming existing barriers and accelerating the deployment of ZEWT solutions.
- Creation of a common knowledge base, enabling informed and timely decisions across different stakeholder groups.
This wide-ranging output will be instrumental in promoting a shared understanding of ZEWT and fostering cross-sectoral synergies throughout Europe.
A Strong European Consortium
TRUSTEE brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of research institutions, industry players, and maritime innovation stakeholders, including:
- Fondazione ISSNOVA (Project Coordinator, Italy)
- RINA Germany GMBH (Germany)
- NAVTEC (Italy)
- INSTITUT FUR SEEVERKEHRSWIRTSCHAFT UND LOGISTIK – ISL (Germany)
- ForMare – Polo Nazionale per lo Shipping (Italy)
- Fundación Valenciaport (Spain)
- AGSKK (Germany)
Looking Ahead
This launch marks the beginning of a multi-year journey dedicated to shaping the future of sustainable waterborne mobility. TRUSTEE will continue to develop new insights, methodologies, and collaborative strategies to support the implementation of zero-emission transport systems in line with the European Green Deal and Horizon Europe objectives.
Stay tuned for upcoming developments and opportunities to engage with the TRUSTEE community.