Two major Horizon Europe initiatives – REFEST and SEAGLOW – came together this week at the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden in Gothenburg, demonstrating the growing momentum behind EU-funded collaboration for climate-resilient, low-emission maritime innovation.
Though launched as separate projects, REFEST and SEAGLOW are both part of the EU Mission “Restore our Oceans and Waters” that aims to protect and restore the health of our seas through research and innovation. In that framework, they are united by a common goal: to decarbonise Europe’s small-scale fishing fleets through cost-effective, scalable technologies. Their meeting at RISE marks a key milestone in what is fast becoming a powerful example of Horizon Europe clustering – where sister projects pool expertise, data, and strategies to amplify impact.
The event took place at RISE’s marine testing premises in Gothenburg, at RISE premises. RISE, as a partner in both projects, hosted technical showcases and facilitated a joint dialogue among project teams, engineers, and marine sustainability experts.
“This kind of cross-project clustering is exactly what Horizon Europe was designed to achieve,” said the REFEST and SEAGLOW communications managers. “When you bring together engineering know-how, field-testing environments, and a shared policy focus, the result is far greater than the sum of its parts.”
The day’s agenda focused on aligning the two consortia in three key areas:
- Technological synergies: sharing insights from vessel retrofitting, propulsion alternatives, and sensor deployment
- Data and policy coordination: comparing life-cycle assessment methodologies and policy outreach strategies
- Joint exploitation planning: building models cases and scaling pathways for adoption in other EU maritime regions
REFEST and SEAGLOW both operate in the Baltic and North Sea regions, making their collaboration especially timely. Together, the projects are trialing advanced green technologies on seven demo vessels across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, and Estonia.
About the Projects
REFEST (Retrofitting of Fishing Vessels with Low Payback Time and Easy-to-Deploy Energy-Efficient Solutions) is focused on upgrading existing fishing boats with modular technologies that can achieve up to 40% reductions in fuel use and emissions. These include air lubrication systems, solar PV panels, battery-hybrid systems, and smart digital interfaces for navigation and efficiency.
Project duration: 2023–2027 | Coordinator: Klaipėda University
SEAGLOW (Sustainable Energy Applications for Green and Low-Impact Operation of Small-Scale Fishing Boats) aims to develop and demonstrate green propulsion systems, including hybrid-electric, antifouling hull coatings, and real-time performance monitoring, in line with the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.”
Project duration: 2023–2027 | Coordinator: North Denmark EU-Office
About RISE
RISE is Sweden’s state-owned research institute, home to over 130 testbeds and demonstration environments. With deep expertise in marine systems, renewable energy, digitalisation, and sustainable industry, RISE provides vital infrastructure for piloting innovation in real-world conditions.
Looking ahead
As part of their clustering efforts, REFEST and SEAGLOW plan to co-develop:
- Shared updates on technological developments and project outcomes, to be disseminated through coordinated publications, open workshops, and policy briefs
- Joint outreach initiatives and events focused on stakeholder engagement, including fishers, industry associations, coastal authorities, and investors
- Inclusion of additional sister projects in future clustering activities, expanding the network of EU initiatives working toward sustainable, low-emission maritime practice
Media Contacts
REFEST: Angela Marzorati, marzorati@enco-consulting.it
SEAGLOW: Claudia Orlandini, communications@lifeplatform.eu
