In brief
On November 5, 2026, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Research Council of Norway, and the Singapore Maritime Institute announced a third joint grant call focusing on alternative fuels, vessel energy efficiency, and digital green shipping operations. The grant offers up to 2.7 million Singapore dollars for Singapore‑based projects and 20 million Norwegian kroner for Norwegian partners, with selected proposals receiving funding for up to four years. The initiative builds on previous calls in 2015 and 2018 that backed four projects in maritime energy efficiency and emerging technologies.
On November 5, 2026, a joint research grant call was announced by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, the Research Council of Norway, and the Singapore Maritime Institute, aiming to accelerate decarbonisation of international shipping in Singapore and Norway.
The grant focuses on three priority areas: alternative fuels and energy infrastructure, vessel energy efficiency and emissions reduction, and digitalization and greener shipping operations. Each proposal must pair research institutions and industry partners from both countries to bridge academia and practice.
Financing will be split between the two administrations: the Singapore Maritime Institute will provide up to 2.7 million Singapore dollars—about 2.12 million U.S. dollars—toward Singapore‑based research projects, while the Research Council of Norway offers up to 20 million Norwegian kroner, roughly 2.15 million U.S. dollars, for Norwegian partners.
Eligible projects may receive funding for up to four years. The call is the third such partnership, following rounds in 2015 and 2018 that supported four projects covering maritime energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and emerging technologies.
The announcement came from a joint statement on the Maritime Authority’s press centre, noting that the collaboration aims to “build a stronger maritime low‑carbon ecosystem” across both nations.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to make shipping greener, with earlier grants having stimulated research into methanol, ammonia, and advanced biofuels and improvements in hull coatings and aerodynamic design.
While the call outlines funding sizes and project duration, details on the selection criteria, submission deadlines, and exact thematic focus for each of the three areas are available on the Maritime Authority’s and Research Council’s websites.
The grant reflects a sustained commitment by Singapore and Norway to collaborate on maritime decarbonisation, aspiring to create solutions that can transfer to global shipping fleets.
Despite the clear funding structure and thematic priorities, stakeholders do not yet know which projects will win the call, how many proposals will be accepted, or the subsequent impact of the funded research on the shipping sector’s emissions trajectory.
