SEAGLOW Hosts Second Consortium Meeting in Gothenburg to Advance Sustainable Innovation in Small-Scale Fisheries

18 June 2025, Gothenburg – This week, the SEAGLOW consortium met in Gothenburg for two days of focused collaboration, hosted by partner the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Partners from across Europe came together to exchange knowledge, assess progress, and align the next steps in the project’s mission: delivering practical, low-emission technologies for small-scale fishing vessels.

Funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, SEAGLOW is developing and demonstrating hybrid-electric drivetrains, antifouling coatings, and real-time energy performance tools—all tailored to meet the operational realities of small-scale fishing fleets. The Gothenburg meeting marked a key moment in the project’s journey toward full-scale pilot testing.

Gothenburg’s Electric Boat Fair

Before the formal meeting began, SEAGLOW was on display at “Enjoy the Silence”, Sweden’s flagship electric boat fair, held from 14–16 June in the heart of Gothenburg. The project team engaged with boatbuilders, innovators, and curious members of the public. The fair proved a valuable opportunity to raise visibility, gather feedback, and build momentum ahead of the consortium gathering.

Strengthening Collaboration and Sharing Insights

The internal meeting opened with strategic updates from the coordination team of NDEU, covering project management, communication activities, and recent achievements. Partners’ discussed reporting and administrative matters alongside how to ensure the smooth running and implementation of technical progress across all work packages.

A standout moment of the day was a collaborative session with REFEST, a fellow Horizon Europe project focused on retrofitting existing fishing vessels with efficient, easy-to-deploy technologies. The REFEST team shared lessons learned and explored potential synergies—from propulsion systems and retrofit strategies to shared policy outreach. The Project Advisor from CINEA, who oversees both projects, joined the discussion to support collective reflection and exchange—highlighting a growing spirit of collaboration and clustering among European marine innovation initiatives.

A tour of RISE’s marine research facilities followed, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the testbeds and infrastructure that are helping assessing SEAGLOW’s ideas feasibility.

Upcoming milestones

Day two of the meeting was devoted to technical deep-dives, with each of SEAGLOW’s five core work packages presenting their  upcoming deadlines and deliverables:

• WP1 (AZTI): : Policy framework for an effective small-scale fisheries decarbonisation

• WP2 (SINTEF): Preparation and baseline measurements

• WP3 (DTI): Implementation in real-life working conditions in fishing vessels

• WP4 (RISE): : Environmental evaluation & validation of solutions demonstrated

• WP5 (FBCD): Commercialisation, exploitation, & economic sustainability

The presentations sparked thoughtful discussion around design challenges, demonstration timelines, and stakeholder engagement strategies. The day concluded with a project-wide wrap-up, consolidating key actions and preparing the consortium for the crucial demonstration phase.

Looking Ahead

With a strong collaborative foundation and growing visibility across Europe’s maritime innovation landscape, SEAGLOW is entering a pivotal stage. Over the coming months, its technologies will be trialed aboard four demonstration vessels operating in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Estonia.

As testing moves from the lab to the water, the project remains focused on its core ambition: helping small-scale fishers transition to cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable practices—without compromising on safety, performance, or economic viability.

Stay connected with SEAGLOW for the latest updates, pilot results, and upcoming events as the project continues to chart a greener course for Europe’s fisheries.