GALATEA blue growth accelerator: 42 innovative SMEs granted more than € 2.2 million of financial support

The 23 projects involve at least 2 SMES from 2 different European countries and sectors (digital or aerospace technologies applied to maritime sectors) and address at least one of the 22 “blue growth” challenges in the following domains: smart port, smart ship, smart shipyard and maritime surveillance.

Promising results for the GALATEA projects

The CORAL project provides a comprehensive solution for digitising small and medium ports’ data management and optimising the vessel management. Gathering 3 SMEs from Poland, France and Spain, the first technical visits were held in Gdansk, Północny and Elbląg. Demonstration activities – such as a solution for monitoring air pollution with drones and UAVs – will be launched in the coming months.

Another example is the SafeSea360 project whose aim is to develop a 360° Surveillance and Crisis Management collaborative platform. It allows different maritime actors to cooperate in real time during emergencies via a multi-drone platform and a long-endurance glider.

Recently, the KTMS project led by a Franco-Spanish consortium won the best R&D prize at the Water Innovation Day in Barcelona. The prize is a recognition of the project’s efforts in reducing the energy consumption of ships. They do so through the use of sensor technology and advanced digitalisation by taking advantage of the wind energy.

Next steps

• The activities of the projects can be followed on GALATEA website and on their Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
• An open call remains available until 30 September 2022 for companies that want to benefit from free services provided by the GALATEA team. So far, 24 SMEs have received different types of support: from improving their business plan, getting advice on the technological or geographical potential of their product to identifying suitable funding opportunities at national or European level.
• The GALATEA final event will be organised in May 2023. The SMEs participating in the project will present their products and solutions to investors, port authorities, shipyards, authorities responsible for safety and security.

Background information

The GALATEA project is funded under the HORIZON 2020 INNOSUP-programme. It aims at accelerating innovative projects and developing new cross-sectoral and cross-border industrial value-chains. It does so by integrating technologies and know-how from aerospace and digital communities under four high potential Blue Growth domains: Smart Ship, Smart Port, Smart Shipyard and Maritime Surveillance.

A unique innovation support scheme for SMEs, the GALATEA project is based on 22 challenges identified by port authorities, local governments, maritime transport companies and other maritime economic actors. The challenges include among others, the development of clean energy sources in ports, digitalisation of ships, autonomous systems, detection of illegal activities, preservation of marine and maritime ecosystems.