2 projects
NAVAIS focused on standardised modular shipbuilding with customer-decoupling points; SEABAT applied modular architecture to battery systems for vessels.
Organization
DAMEN RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION BV
R&D arm of Damen Shipyards specializing in modular ship design, maritime hydrogen fuel systems, and large-scale vessel battery architectures.
Large industrial companytransportNL
H2020 projects
4
As coordinator
0
Total EC funding
—
Unique partners
78
What they do
Their core work
Damen RD&I is the research and innovation arm of Damen Shipyards Group, one of Europe's largest shipbuilders. They focus on developing next-generation vessel designs — from modular shipbuilding platforms to zero-emission propulsion systems using hydrogen and large-scale battery architectures. Their H2020 work centers on making ferries, short sea vessels, and workboats cleaner and safer through digital twins, CFD simulation, and standardized hydrogen bunkering. They bring deep shipbuilding engineering expertise to EU consortia, translating research into commercially viable vessel designs.
Core expertise
What they specialise in
Maritime hydrogen fuel systems and safetyprimary
2 projects
StasHH developed standard-sized heavy-duty hydrogen interfaces; e-SHyIPS addressed hydrogen bunkering procedures, safety engineering, and risk assessment for passenger ships.
Large-scale maritime battery systemssecondary
1 project
SEABAT targeted scalable hybrid battery architectures with BMS and converter integration for short sea vessels and ferries.
Ship environmental performance and digital simulationsecondary
2 projects
NAVAIS addressed underwater radiated noise reduction; e-SHyIPS employed CFD simulation and digital twin methods for ship design validation.
Evolution & trajectory
How they've shifted over time
Early focus
Modular shipbuilding standardization
Recent focus
Maritime hydrogen and battery propulsion
Their early H2020 work (2018) focused on rethinking how ships are built — modular, platform-based design principles to make shipbuilding more standardized and cost-effective (NAVAIS). From 2021 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward green propulsion: hydrogen fuel systems, large battery architectures, and the safety standards needed to deploy them on passenger vessels and ferries. This mirrors the broader maritime decarbonization push and positions Damen RD&I at the intersection of shipbuilding know-how and zero-emission technology.
Damen RD&I is moving firmly toward zero-emission vessel design, combining their shipbuilding platform expertise with hydrogen and battery integration — expect continued focus on green maritime propulsion and associated safety certification.
Collaboration profile
How they like to work
Role: third_party_expertReach: European18 countries collaborated
Damen RD&I participates exclusively as a third party in H2020 projects, meaning they contribute through a parent or linked entity rather than as a direct grant recipient. Despite this indirect role, they engage broadly — 78 unique partners across 18 countries suggest they are well-connected within European maritime research networks. Their third-party status likely reflects internal corporate structuring at Damen Group rather than limited involvement; they bring industrial shipbuilding reality-checks to research consortia.
Connected to 78 unique consortium partners across 18 countries, indicating deep integration into Europe's maritime research ecosystem. Their network spans both traditional shipbuilding nations and emerging clean-energy maritime hubs.
Why partner with them
What sets them apart
Damen RD&I brings something rare to EU consortia: a direct pipeline from research to one of Europe's most prolific commercial shipyards. While many maritime research partners are universities or institutes, Damen can validate and implement vessel designs at industrial scale. Their combined expertise in modular shipbuilding AND green propulsion (hydrogen + batteries) makes them a uniquely practical partner for anyone working on the maritime energy transition.
Notable projects
Highlights from their portfolio
- NAVAISTackled fundamental shipbuilding methodology — platform-based modular design applicable across ferries, workboats, and other vessel types.
- e-SHyIPSAddressed the full safety and standards chain for hydrogen on passenger ships — from bunkering procedures to CFD simulation and digital twins.
- SEABATFocused on scalable battery architectures for waterborne transport, bridging the gap between battery technology and real vessel integration.
Cross-sector capabilities
Energy — hydrogen storage and distribution systems for maritime applicationsEnvironment — underwater noise reduction and vessel emission standardsManufacturing — modular platform-based production methods transferable beyond shipbuildingDigital — CFD simulation and digital twin development for complex engineering systems
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