By
Kasturi Datta |
Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku is to launch a new five-year MERiON programme to develop future cruise ship concepts and study how floating infrastructure can be integrated into vessel operations.
Running from 2026 to 2030, the programme will be managed by GT Lab, Meyer Turku’s open innovation unit, and co-funded by Business Finland. It will bring together partners from Meyer Turku’s existing maritime network, as well as universities, research institutes and other companies to focus on three key areas: future operations, structures and materials, and maritime technologies.
These research areas will support the project’s core focus of creating future cruise ship concepts and exploring how certain functions can be transferred from cruise ships to floating infrastructure.
“In MERiON, we develop technologies that respond both to increasingly stringent environmental requirements and to the needs of a rapidly changing business environment,” said Tom Degerman, chief commercial officer at Meyer Turku. “Our research will focus particularly on circular economy solutions, digitalisation, structure design, clean energy solutions, and net zero materials.”
Meyer Turku also aims to strengthen the capabilities and competitiveness of the maritime industry on a global scale through MERiON. The project is expected to increase the combined research, development and innovation (RDI) investments of Meyer Turku and its partners within the shipbuilding ecosystem by up €85 million ($99,951,500).
“The maritime industry is of strategic importance to Finland, and strong RDI activities enable us to maintain our leading position in international markets,” said Degerman. “Through MERiON, we can respond even better to our customers’ changing needs, strengthen our ecosystem, and create new business opportunities for the entire Finnish maritime cluster.”