In brief
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Research Council of Norway, and the Singapore Maritime Institute have launched a joint grant call offering up to 2.7 million Singapore dollars for Singapore partners and 20 million Norwegian kroner for Norwegian partners. The call focuses on alternative fuels, vessel energy efficiency, and digital green shipping operations, requiring collaboration between research institutions and industry from both countries. The initiative is the third joint effort between Singapore and Norway following similar calls in 2015 and 2018.
On November 5, 2026, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Research Council of Norway, and the Singapore Maritime Institute announced a joint grant call to fund research projects that aim to cut emissions from international shipping.
The grant, described in a joint statement, offers up to 2.7 million Singapore dollars (about 2.12 million U.S. dollars) to Singapore‑based research partners and 20 million Norwegian kroner (about 2.15 million U.S. dollars) to Norwegian partners.
Each proposal must include research institutions and industry partners from both Singapore and Norway, ensuring that the solutions can be applied directly in commercial shipping fleets.
Study subjects will span three focus areas: alternative fuels and the infrastructure needed to support them; vessel energy efficiency and emissions reduction technologies; and digital tools that make shipping operations greener.
Funding could cover research projects for up to four years, giving teams time to develop prototypes and conduct field tests.
This is the third time Singapore and Norway have teamed up on a joint research grant call; earlier rounds in 2015 and 2018 supported four projects that tackled maritime energy efficiency, emission cuts and new technologies.
The initiative follows a broader trend of international cooperation to meet the targets set by the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization strategy.
Maritime industry stakeholders welcomed the partnership, noting that cross‑border collaboration accelerates the pace at which green shipping technologies can reach the market.
Singapore’s Maritime Institute will take the lead on coordinating the grant application process, while the Research Council of Norway will manage subsequent funding disbursement.
Industry partners will be encouraged to co‑fund and test solutions with research institutions, ensuring that pilot projects can transition to commercial adoption.
Both governments highlighted the importance of digitalization, stating that data analytics and real‑time monitoring can unlock further efficiencies in fuel consumption and route planning.
By aligning funding streams, Singapore and Norway aim to create a pipeline of ready‑to‑deploy solutions that can lower greenhouse gas emissions across the global shipping fleet.
