On November 5, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) announced a joint research grant call aimed at decarbonizing international shipping, with each government promising more than two million dollars in funding.
The initiative, described by the Xinhua Agency, will finance projects that secure alternatives to fossil fuels, improve vessel energy efficiency, and promote digital green shipping operations. The MPA and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) will provide up to 2.7 million Singapore dollars (about 2.12 million U.S. dollars) for Singapore‑based partners, while the RCN will allocate up to 20 million Norwegian kroner (roughly 2.15 million U.S. dollars) for Norwegian partners. Each proposal must involve research institutions and industry partners from both countries in order to ensure practical industry applications.
Both Singapore and Norway have issued statements outlining the scope of the grant. The Xinhua article notes that the call is the third joint grant between the two nations, following similar efforts in 2015 and 2018, which funded four projects focusing on maritime energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and emerging technologies.
The MPA also released a media statement that mirrors the Xinhua framing, highlighting the three focus areas: alternative fuels and energy infrastructure, vessel energy efficiency and emissions reduction, and digitalization of shipping operations. The MPA released those details two hours after the Xinhua press release was posted.
While the Xinhua description emphasizes the historical continuity of the partnership, the MPA statement underscores the safety and handling of alternative marine fuels, stating that the grant will “improve the safety and handling of alternative marine fuels.” The text of the MPA statement was reproduced by a technology website, TechNode, which added that the grant will also foster the development of a digital ecosystem for greener shipping operations.
The projects that receive funding may be awarded for a period of up to four years, with the objectives of demonstrating scalable, industry‑ready solutions. Both sides have underscored the importance of a cross‑border collaboration to meet global maritime emissions targets.
The grant call has been positioned within a broader context of global decarbonization efforts. Singapore’s MPA highlighted that the 2015 and 2018 rounds of collaboration had successfully launched four projects, underscoring a continued partnership to reduce maritime emissions, while the Xinhua article stated that this current funding round further reinforces Singapore and Norway’s joint commitment to decarbonize shipping.
