The European Union has opened its latest round of financial support for collaborative research and innovation announcing nearly €6.4 billion in new investment under its 7th Framework Research Programme (2007-2013).

This new call offers a range of competitive opportunities to support collaborative pan-European research across a number of sectors including maritime transport as well as support for regional and specialist research infrastructures and support for SMEs.

The Transport Programme Includes:

• Green retrofitting through optimisation of hull-propulsion interaction;
• Retrofitting of existing ships with green technologies;
• Towards zero emission marine engines;
• Efficient interfaces between transport modes;
• Strengthening the European maritime-transport sector competitiveness;Exploring and fostering international collaboration in the waterborne transport sector;

The deadline is the 2nd December 2010

A summary of opportunities relevant to the various sectors is available here:

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

For further information, including the various application deadlines, see the FP7 Ireland website.