Norway and Singapore Joint Maritime Research Call

The Research Council of Norway (RCN) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) together with the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), are preparing a new bilateral maritime research and innovation call to strengthen research collaboration between Norway and Singapore.

The planned initiative will build on the long-standing research partnership between the two countries and support joint projects addressing key challenges and opportunities in the maritime sector.

The partners are currently finalising the framework for the call. The intention is to support collaborative research and innovation projects involving eligible research institutions in Norway and Singapore, and contributing to the transition towards a safer, greener and more efficient maritime industry.

Proposed research topics

The planned call will address the following themes:

1. Alternative Fuels & Energy Infrastructure

• • Safety, Toxicity, and Risk Mitigation
  • Next-Generation Fuel Bunkering & Logistics
  • Scalable Marine Electrification & Shore-Power Infrastructure

2. Vessel Energy Efficiency & Emission Reduction

• • Hydrodynamic Optimisation & Energy Saving Devices
  • Smart Onboard Energy Management Systems
  • Operational Performance Modelling & Energy Baseline Digitalisation

3. Digitalisation, Autonomy & Green Shipping Corridors

• • Data-Driven Voyage Optimisation & Just-In-Time Arrivals
  • Autonomous & Remote Operations for Greener Shipping
  • Interoperable Ship-Port-Logistics Data Architectures
  • Green Shipping Corridor Integration & Performance Tracking

In total, up to NOK 20 million will be available for Norwegian participants and SGD 2.7 million for Singaporean participants. The maximum funding per project will be NOK 7 million from the Norwegian side and SGD 1 million from the Singaporean side. Eligible research organisations in Norway and Singapore are encouraged to apply. Only research organisations will receive financial support, however project teams are also encouraged to include industry partners. The application deadline is 20 January 2027.

Researchers are encouraged to start preparing

Ahead of the formal launch, researchers in Norway and Singapore are encouraged to begin identifying potential partners and exploring opportunities for joint project development. There will be a structured matchmaking process ahead of 5 November, which will allow interested researchers to exchange information about their expertise and research interests, identify relevant counterparts and prepare for possible project discussions during Norway-Singapore Science Week.

The early announcement is intended to provide the research communities with additional time to:

• establish international project teams;
• identify complementary expertise;
• develop common research questions; and
• prepare for possible project discussions during Norway-Singapore Science Week.

Formal launch during Norway-Singapore Science Week

The joint maritime research call will be formally launched during the Norway-Singapore Science Conference on 5 November 2026, which forms part of Norway-Singapore Science Week 2026.

The full call text, including the confirmed scope, detailed eligibility requirements, funding arrangements, application procedures and final timeline, will be published at that time.

Strengthening maritime research collaboration

Norway and Singapore are both leading maritime nations with strong research, industry and public-sector ecosystems. Through this initiative, the partners aim to encourage ambitious collaborative projects that can contribute to the development of sustainable maritime solutions with international relevance.

Registration of Interest

Eligible applicants will be invited to register their interest in the above topics and research challenges, which will facilitate the matchmaking between Singaporean and Norwegian partners.