WinGD AG

Their core work

WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel) is a Swiss marine engine manufacturer specializing in low-speed two-stroke engines for large ocean-going vessels. Part of the Wärtsilä group, they design and license propulsion systems used in container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers worldwide. Within EU research, they contribute industrial engine expertise to projects developing cleaner marine fuels and more efficient, lower-emission ship propulsion technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

WinGD's H2020 trajectory shows a clear pivot from hardware-focused engine optimization toward sustainable fuel adoption. Their earliest project (HERCULES-2, 2015) concentrated on engine flexibility and emissions performance — a traditional engineering challenge. From 2017 onward, their involvement shifted decisively toward bio-based marine fuels, particularly lignin-derived drop-in fuels (FALCON, IDEALFUEL), reflecting the maritime sector's growing pressure to decarbonize under IMO regulations.

WinGD is positioning itself as an engine manufacturer ready for the transition to biofuels in shipping, making them a valuable partner for any project requiring real-world marine engine testing of alternative fuels.

How they like to work

WinGD consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for large industrial companies contributing domain expertise and testing infrastructure to research-driven projects. With 52 unique partners across 13 countries in just 3 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia — likely multi-million-euro RIA/IA projects with 15-20+ members each. This suggests they are comfortable in complex international collaborations where their role is well-defined: providing the engine-side validation that academic and biotech partners need.

Despite only three projects, WinGD has built a broad network of 52 partners across 13 countries, reflecting participation in large-scale European consortia spanning the maritime, energy, and biorefinery sectors.

What sets them apart

WinGD occupies a rare niche: they are one of the few major two-stroke marine engine manufacturers actively engaged in EU-funded biofuel research. While many projects develop alternative fuels in the lab, WinGD brings the critical "last mile" — testing whether those fuels actually work in the engines that power global shipping. For any consortium developing marine biofuels, having an engine OEM like WinGD validates the entire fuel pathway from feedstock to propulsion.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IDEALFUEL
  Their most recent and best-funded project (EUR 500,982), directly linking lignin biorefinery output to marine engine fuel — a full value chain demonstration.
• HERCULES-2
  Part of the long-running HERCULES series on next-generation marine engines, one of the flagship EU maritime R&D initiatives.