INSTITUT FUR SEEVERKEHRSWIRTSCHAFT UND LOGISTIK

Their core work

ISL is a Bremen-based research institute specializing in maritime economics, port logistics, and waterway transport systems. They study how ports operate, how freight moves through intermodal networks, and how digitalization and automation can improve inland and coastal shipping. Their work spans from ship design optimization to port governance models, supply chain integration, and traffic management for inland waterways. They bridge the gap between transport policy research and practical logistics solutions for Europe's maritime and inland shipping infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ISL's early H2020 projects (2016-2018) focused broadly on maritime logistics infrastructure — shared logistics platforms (SELIS), ship design (HOLISHIP), and transport industry benchmarking (SCORE). From 2018 onward, their focus sharpened toward ports and inland waterways specifically, with growing emphasis on digitalization, automation, and smart traffic management. The progression from participant to coordinator on their most recent and largest project (IW-NET) signals a deliberate move toward leadership in inland waterway innovation.

ISL is moving from broad maritime transport research toward becoming a specialist in smart, automated inland waterway systems — a niche with growing EU policy attention.

How they like to work

ISL operates primarily as a project partner (4 out of 5 projects), but stepped into a coordinator role for their most recent and largest project (IW-NET, EUR 1.18M). With 123 unique consortium partners across 21 countries, they maintain a wide and diverse European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. This breadth makes them well-connected across the transport research community and a useful partner for consortium building.

ISL has collaborated with 123 unique partners across 21 countries, indicating a broad European network concentrated in the maritime and transport research community. Their Bremen base and port-focused research naturally connects them to North Sea and inland waterway stakeholders across Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

ISL occupies a specific niche at the intersection of maritime economics and logistics technology — they understand both the policy/governance side of ports and the technical side of automation and digitalization. Based in Bremen, one of Germany's major port cities, they have direct proximity to real-world maritime operations. Their recent move into inland waterway coordination positions them in a transport segment that is receiving increasing EU investment but has fewer specialized research players than road or rail.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IW-NET
  Their only coordinator role and largest single grant (EUR 1.18M), focused on the strategically important topic of inland waterway automation and traffic management.
• SELIS
  Their second-largest project (EUR 982K) tackling Europe-wide logistics data sharing — a foundational topic for supply chain digitalization.
• DocksTheFuture
  Developed methodology for monitoring and evaluating port innovation across Europe, covering governance, digitalization, sustainability, and port-city integration.