Maritime CleanTech

What Maritime CleanTech does

Maritime CleanTech (Norwegian Centre of Innovation and Expertise, Org.nr. 996 700 275) is a Norwegian non-profit innovation cluster founded in 2010, headquartered in Stord with additional offices in Stavanger and Bergen. The organization functions as an intermediary between industry, research, and public actors to accelerate maritime decarbonization, serving ship owners, technology providers (including ABB, Wärtsilä, DNV, Alfa Laval), research institutions, and government authorities. Its 150+ partner network covers every link in the maritime value chain from design and engineering through to ship operation and classification, positioning it as a market-leading cluster alongside counterparts such as Pô​le Mer Méditerranée.

The organization coordinates a portfolio of EU-funded demonstration projects across the major alternative-fuel and propulsion pathways: the world's first ammonia-powered platform supply vessel (Apollo / Viking Energy, €5M), hydrogen fuel cell vessel deployments (FLAGSHIPS, €7M; H2NOR, €5.9M), wind propulsion programs (Orcelle Horizon, €9M; AWESOME), DC onboard power systems using solid-state transformer and MVDC architectures (STEESMAT, €7.75M), the world's first battery-swapping robot for passenger ferries (SHIFTR), AI-supported retrofit design platforms (FIT-HORIZONS, €4M; AIMPERES; GASS), underwater noise reduction (LOWNOISER, €6.3M), alternative fuel acceleration (SeaThrive, €2M; Ship-aH2oy, €15M), offshore charging (Ocean Charger, 38M NOK), and the fully electric Medstraum ferry (TrAM, €11.7M). Underlying technical components include surrogate modelling for vessel performance, digital twins for voyage optimization, machine learning-based decision support, and next-generation DC power architectures. Maritime CleanTech also leads development of ferry and offshore vessel technology roadmaps within the EU Waterborne Technology Platform, shaping which technologies receive EU research funding.

The business model combines three revenue streams: tiered annual partner membership fees ranging from 18,000 NOK (small companies) to 89,000 NOK (100+ employees) plus VAT, with research institutions at 66,250 NOK; managed services revenue from coordinating and participating in EU Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 research consortia; and professional services revenue through policy advisory reports and market intelligence. Pricing is purely subscription-based for membership access; project budgets (ranging from €2M to €15M per consortium) flow through to maritime and research partners rather than directly to Maritime CleanTech. As of late 2025, the organization operates with 16 staff members across three Norwegian offices under Interim CEO Håvard Tvedte, following the parental leave of CEO Ada Martine Jakobsen.

Name

Maritime CleanTech

Legal name

Maritime CleanTech (Norwegian Centre of Innovation and Expertise)

Website

https://maritimecleantech.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maritime CleanTech is a Norwegian non-profit innovation cluster coordinating industry, research, and public partners to develop clean maritime technologies. It serves ship owners, technology providers, and policymakers through EU-funded R&D projects, policy advisory, and a 150-partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stord Island

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Partner Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from partner organizations based on company size, ranging from 18,000 NOK for small companies (1-10 employees) to 89,000 NOK for large companies (100+ employees). R&D institutions and universities pay 66,250 NOK.
2. EU Research Project Funding: Coordinates and participates in EU Horizon Europe funded projects. Maritime CleanTech manages EU funding as project coordinator for initiatives like FIT-HORIZONS (€4M), SeaThrive (€2M), and STEESMAT (€7.75M).
3. Policy Advisory Services: Provides policymakers and regulators with actionable insights to shape maritime decarbonization policies. Publishes policy briefs and reports on compliance costs and market opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maritime CleanTech is a Norwegian innovation cluster and Centre of Innovation and Expertise that coordinates collaborative R&D projects, manages a 150+ partner ecosystem across the maritime value chain, and runs EU-funded programs to develop and scale clean maritime technologies including hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia propulsion, battery systems, wind-assisted propulsion, and DC power systems. The organization also delivers policy advisory insights and thought-leadership content on maritime decarbonization to industry stakeholders and regulators.

Product overview

Maritime CleanTech is a Norwegian innovation hub and industry cluster for clean maritime solutions, not a traditional product company. Rather than selling products, the organisation coordinates collaborative innovation projects, provides access to its partner network of over 150 companies, and offers policy advisory services. The project portfolio spans critical decarbonisation pathways including ammonia propulsion (Apollo), hydrogen fuel cells (FLAGSHIPS, H2NOR), wind propulsion (Orcelle Horizon, AWESOME), battery and charging infrastructure (SHIFTR, Ocean Charger), DC power systems (STEESMAT), AI-powered efficiency tools (GASS, Norwegian Maritime AI Centre), underwater noise reduction (LOWNOISER), and alternative fuel acceleration (SeaThrive, FIT-HORIZONS). Maritime CleanTech also publishes insights and reports on maritime climate policy and markets, and facilitates industry events and conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation Network & Partnership Services Collaboration platform connecting 150+ partners across the maritime value chain, providing access to expertise, connections, EU funding pipelines, project development support, and policy influence for maritime decarbonization.
• Maritime CleanTech Insights & Reports Policy briefs, market analyses, and reports providing insights on compliance costs, market opportunities, and climate technology trends for maritime decarbonisation, serving policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders.
• SHIFTR Battery Swapping System World's first battery-swapping robot for passenger fast ferries, enabling rapid battery replacement on vessels while batteries are charged more gently at the quay. Deployed at Nesoddtangen for Oslofjord public transport.
• FIT-HORIZONS AI Retrofit Design Platform AI-supported design platform that combines simulation, operational data, and AI-supported modeling to help shipowners identify effective retrofit pathways for cutting emissions from existing vessels across six vessel segments.
• AWESOME Wind-Assisted Propulsion Programme Full-scale demonstration programme providing verified data and practical decision-support tools for shipowners evaluating wind-assisted propulsion technology for emissions reduction.
• SeaThrive Alternative Fuels Support Programme 30-month programme providing workshops, training, advisory services, and matchmaking to accelerate the development of alternative maritime fuel projects across European industry stakeholders.
• Apollo Ammonia-Powered PSV Project Ammonia-powered platform supply vessel project delivering the world's first ammonia-powered PSV (Viking Energy) for offshore operations, with potential to reduce GHG emissions by 70 percent or more.
• FLAGSHIPS Hydrogen Vessel Project Project deploying two commercially operated hydrogen fuel cell vessels in Europe for zero-emission waterborne transport, demonstrating commercial viability of hydrogen propulsion.
• STEESMAT DC Power System Project Next-generation DC-based onboard energy system using solid-state transformer technology and medium-voltage direct current grids combined with smart energy management to improve efficiency and enable full integration of batteries and fuel cells on large vessels.
• GASS (Green AI for Sustainable Shipping) AI and digital twin project using data-driven approaches and machine learning to optimise voyages and vessel performance for decarbonisation, with 44 million NOK in funding.
• H2NOR Maritime Fuel Cell System Groundbreaking maritime fuel cell project developing the Corvus Pelican hydrogen fuel cell system with performance ranging from 320 kW to 10 MW, completed.
• LOWNOISER Underwater Noise Reduction Project Underwater noise reduction project tackling noise pollution from maritime traffic while making ships more energy efficient, valued at €6.3 million.
• Ocean Charger Offshore Charging Solution Offshore charging solution project demonstrating market-ready technology for zero-emission operations at offshore wind farms, valued at 38 million NOK. Completed.
• TrAM Electric High-Speed Passenger Vessel Project Project developing the world's first fully electric high-speed passenger vessel (Medstraum) using advanced modular production methods, completed with €11.7 million in funding.
• Ship-aH2oy LOHC Hydrogen Carrier Project Project developing a safe and scalable zero-emission shipping solution using LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) and fuel cell technology, demonstrated onboard an offshore wind vessel, valued at €15 million.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maritime CleanTech coordinated FIT-HORIZONS project funded with nearly €4 million from EU
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AWESOME Project (15 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026AWESOME project with EU backing focuses on wind-assisted propulsion demonstrations. Coordinated by Kongsberg Maritime. Norwegian partners include Odfjell (demonstrator vessel), SINTEF Ocean, SINTEF Digital, and DNV. Maritime CleanTech connects project results with industry, policymakers, and the market. Full-scale demonstrators include Odfjell chemical tanker and Neoliner Origin from NEOLine.
• AIMPERES Consortium (10 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026AIMPERES is a Horizon Europe project developing AI-driven energy management solutions for the existing fleet. Maritime CleanTech connects technology development with market needs and supports uptake. Consortium includes Fraunhofer IEM (Germany), Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp Maritime Academy, École Centrale de Nantes, STC Group (Netherlands), Navalprogetti, Nestra, NAVTOR (Norway), Transtal Shipping, and Maritime CleanTech.
• FIT-HORIZONS Consortium (19 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026FIT-HORIZONS is a nearly €4 million EU-funded project coordinated by SINTEF Ocean, with Maritime CleanTech responsible for maximizing industry impact and market uptake. The project builds AI-supported design platforms for ship retrofit decisions across six vessel segments: inland waterways, short-sea shipping, long-distance shipping, ferries, cruise vessels, and offshore vessels. Partners include Vard Design, Friendship Systems, Laskaridis Shipping, SimFWD, CNR, Bound 4 Blue, DNV, Atlantec, Alfa Laval, ABS, Hurtigruten, Tidewater Rederi, Columbia Shipmanagement, Levante Ferries, University of Strathclyde, Haeger & Schmidt, and LMG Marin.
• SeaThrive Consortium (12 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026SeaThrive (Supporting Maritime Alternative Fuel Projects) is a €2 million EU-funded project coordinated by Maritime CleanTech. Partners include maritime clusters (Pôle Mer Méditerranée France, Maritime FVG Italy, Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland Germany), research institutions (NTUA Greece, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center Denmark, DTU, VTT Finland), SMEs (Auxios Norway, Epsilon International Malta), and Lloyd's Register classification society. Project runs 30 months from April 2026.
• Pôle Mer MéditerranéecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2024Green Deal collaboration agreement signed between Maritime CleanTech and French cluster Pôle Mer Méditerranée in April 2024, following French-Norwegian strategic partnership on green industrial transformation. Both clusters unite industries, research centers, financial experts, and public bodies. Combined network exceeds 650 partners from France and Norway.
• Norwegian Partners Network (150+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore than 150 partners covering every link in maritime value-chains including ship owners, technology providers, research institutions, public authorities. Partners organized into categories: Design/engineering/yards, Energy/infrastructure, Public authorities, Research/innovation, Services/classification, Ship owners/operators, Technology/equipment. ABB is listed as a technology partner.
• EU Waterborne Technology PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime CleanTech has a leading role in developing EU Waterborne Technology Roadmaps, responsible for ferry and offshore vessel segment roadmaps. Contributes to priorities, call topics, and evaluation criteria that shape which solutions receive EU funding.
• Bibby MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBibby Marine participated in coalition publishing position paper on offshore vessel charging technology. Maritime CleanTech highlighted technology's readiness and potential for decarbonising offshore wind operations.
• Norled, SEAM, Aarbakke InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHIFTR battery swapping robot developed through collaboration between Norled (vessel operator), SEAM (technology provider), and Aarbakke Innovation. Maritime CleanTech involved as innovation hub supporting the project. Ruter bringing solution into operation in Oslofjord.
• STEESMAT Consortium (13 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEESMAT is a €7.75 million EU Horizon Europe project developing next-generation DC-based maritime power systems. Partners include Wärtsilä, Danfoss, Eaton, The Switch, NTNU, Fraunhofer, UTBM, LUT, DNV, ODCA, Sustainable Energy, and Maritime CleanTech (project coordinator).
• SamskipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamskip's SeaShuttle hydrogen-powered container vessel project serves as demonstrator for EU-backed HyShip project. Maritime CleanTech collaborates on hydrogen infrastructure and technology development for green corridor between Oslo and Rotterdam.
• Apollo Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApollo project (€5 million) developing world's first ammonia-powered platform supply vessel Viking Energy. Partners include Eidesvik Offshore, VARD Group, Wärtsilä, and others working on ammonia propulsion and bunkering technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• SINTEF Ocean: Norwegian applied-research institute with Europe's largest concentration of marine technology researchers, coordinator of the FIT-HORIZONS project in which Maritime CleanTech leads market uptake. Closely allied research partner whose outputs (vessel hydrodynamics, fuel-cell decks, ammonia safety) underpin most of the cluster's demonstrators.
• Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center: Danish research centre focused on decarbonising shipping through technology research, policy and partnerships. Is a named partner on SeaThrive alongside Maritime CleanTech and competes for the same E.U. maritime cluster funding while sharing focus on alternative fuels and AI-enabled efficiency.

Broad incumbents

• DNV: Global maritime classification society and one of the largest maritime advisory firms, deeply involved in decarbonisation advisory, alternative-fuel rules and ship-retrofit services. Is a partner on FIT-HORIZONS, AIMPERES and AWESOME with Maritime CleanTech but also competes with it by offering end-to-end cluster-style decarbonisation programmes to shipowners.
• Lloyd's Register: Global classification society with a strong presence in maritime decarbonisation advisory, alternative-fuel rules and EU Waterborne Platform-adjacent standards work. Is a named partner on the SeaThrive consortium alongside Maritime CleanTech, illustrating both the collaboration and the overlap in member-facing decarbonisation services.
• Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore: Global classification society with a dedicated Marine & Offshore division increasingly active in alternative-fuel approval, decarbonisation advisory and EU-funded demonstration projects. Provides overlapping capability to Maritime CleanTech's partner base and competes for cluster-facilitator roles on EU maritime cleantech calls.

Direct peers

• Maritime Cluster Norddeutschland: German maritime cluster coordinating shipyards, suppliers, ports and research institutions across northern Germany with a similar cluster-of-clusters structure and EU project participation. Lists Maritime CleanTech as a partner via the SeaThrive consortium and operates with a comparable member-funded, EU-project-coordinating model.
• Maritime FVG (Friuli Venezia Giulia): Italian maritime cluster active in the northern Adriatic shipbuilding and offshore supply chain. Is a named partner on the SeaThrive alternative-fuel project coordinated by Maritime CleanTech and plays the same innovation-cluster role at a smaller national scale.
• Pôle Mer Méditerranée: French maritime innovation cluster based in Toulon with a comparable cluster model that unites industry, research centres and public bodies around blue economy and clean maritime technologies. Signed a Green Deal collaboration agreement with Maritime CleanTech in April 2024 and is a direct consortium partner on SeaThrive, AIMPERES and other EU projects.
• Blue Cluster: Flemish blue-economy innovation cluster connecting ports, shipowners, technology providers and academic partners around decarbonisation and the blue economy. Operates a near-identical cluster-platform model with EU project participation and tiered membership, and competes for the same Horizon Europe calls in marine cleantech.
• SMART Maritime Cluster: Greek maritime innovation cluster promoting Greek shipping companies, technology providers and academic institutions in decarbonisation and digital shipping. Mirrors Maritime CleanTech's cluster-facilitator role in a neighbouring regional market and pursues overlapping EU funding programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/maritimecleantech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritimecleantech
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaritimeCleanTech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maritime CleanTech