The Swedish Shipowners´Association (Sweship) has recently launched an updated research strategy for 2019–2023 focusing on sustainable shipping. "The Swedish maritime sector has for a long time been at the forefront in terms of sustainability and we will continue to stand for quality shipping through active involvement in research, innovation, and development," says CEO Rikard Engström.
According to a statement April 10, 2019, the updated research strategy launched by Swedish Shipowners´Association (Föreningen Svensk Sjöfart – Sweship) focuses on sustainable shipping and aims at achieving enhanced competitiveness, increased welfare and safety, zero emissions and social sustainability.
The members of the Swedish Shipowners´Association have for a long time invested in research and innovation issues and, for example, started the national maritime competence center Lighthouse and its regional predecessor. Around 90 percent of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry and the Swedish shipping sector employs about 100 000 people throughout Sweden – an investment in sustainable shipping is thus not only an investment in shipping itself – it is an investment in “Sweden Inc”. It is therefore important that industry, academia and authorities work actively and together on these issues. The Swedish maritime sector has for a long time been at the forefront in terms of sustainability and we will continue to stand for quality shipping through active involvement in research, innovation, and development, said Rikard Engström, CEO, Swedish Shipowners´Association.
Suzanne Green, the association’s Research and Innovation Manager, emphasizes that the updated strategy shows both challenges and solutions for research and innovation (R&I).
The strategy is based on the global sustainability goals, national goals and the shipping companies’ needs and challenges. The areas that are prioritized are all interdisciplinary and tied to competitiveness and sustainability, as well as having technical, economic, legal and political dimensions. Digitization is, for example, a means that creates conditions for, among other things, new business models and working methods – but can also be used to develop better decision support to increase energy efficiency, said Suzanne Green.
