Merimerkit+

Responsible innovation to boost maritime competitiveness

Project Duration

1.4.2026 – 31.12.2028

Source of Funding

Economic Development Centre of Central Finland

Total Funding

989 500 €

The Merimerkit project aims to strengthen the competitiveness, vitality, and resilience of maritime industry companies by developing new solutions through responsible, network-based innovation. The initiative integrates economic, environmental, and business perspectives into the development of operating models. Merimerkit+ complements this work by anticipating future competence needs and drivers of change. Value chain management and simulations are used to deepen understanding of the wider impacts of decisions. Companies’ renewal and competitiveness are supported by producing up-to-date knowledge and learning materials for both national and international contexts.

The maritime cluster is a key industry in Finland, but maintaining its competitiveness requires continuous skills development and new talent. The sector includes over 2,000 companies and more than 46,000 employees, operating through extensive networks and complex supply chains. Logistics, project management and cargo safety play a central role, especially in shipbuilding, where supply chains are intricate and sensitive to disruptions.

Merimerkit+ addresses the industry’s development needs

The Merimerkit+ project addresses these challenges by developing skills and practical solutions in close collaboration with companies. It takes a holistic view of value chains and uses simulations to better understand how decisions affect the entire supply chain. The goal is to strengthen companies’ ability to anticipate changes, manage risks and improve the sustainability and efficiency of their operations.

The project focuses on key competence areas such as sustainability, cost estimation and tendering, project management in shipbuilding, and network leadership. It also addresses emerging topics including alternative fuels in maritime transport, Arctic maritime industry conditions, and modern manufacturing technologies. Developing these competencies supports companies’ renewal and enhances their competitiveness in a changing operating environment.

Up-to-date learning materials support safety

A central part of the project is the development and updating of up-to-date learning materials, particularly related to transport and cargo safety, where new regulations and requirements are evolving. Existing materials produced in earlier projects, such as CARING, SataDiLogis and MeriDilogis, are further developed to ensure that continuous learning and decision-making are based on the latest knowledge.

The project also utilises practical, collaborative learning environments where value chain simulations help illustrate the broader impacts of transport damages and supply chain disruptions on industrial production processes. This improves not only transport and cargo safety, but also occupational and environmental safety.

Broad collaboration ensures effectiveness

Merimerkit+ is implemented in close cooperation between the University of Turku, Turku University of Applied Sciences and JAMK University of Applied Sciences. Collaboration with companies and stakeholders is essential to ensure that the project addresses real competence needs and that the results are widely adopted in practice. Extensive networks across Finland enable the project to reach target groups in multiple regions and industries.

Merimerkit+ complements the EU co-funded Merimerkit project by focusing on anticipating future skills needs and developing education. Together, the projects support the sustainable growth of the maritime industry, strengthen supply chain performance and help companies respond to rapidly changing competence requirements.