The Danube Commission hosted the PLATINA4Action 4th Technology Transfer Workshop on 03 November 2025 in Budapest
The PLATINA4Action project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, successfully held its Fourth Technology Transfer Workshop in Budapest on 3 November 2025. The event was hosted by Danube Commission and gathered representatives from the Member State authorities, industry experts, and research organisations to advance the transition toward zero-emission and digital inland waterway transport (IWT) in Europe. All presentations are available on the PLATINA4Action website.
Supporting NAIADES III and the European Green Deal
PLATINA4Action acts as a strategic coordination and support platform under NAIADES III, directly contributing to the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the objectives of the European Green Deal. Through close cooperation with DG MOVE and other key stakeholders, the project:
- Assesses the impact of EU policy measures on emission reduction and modal shift in inland navigation, based on a new Digital Twin;
- Prepares a European system for reporting on the energy and emissions performance of IWT;
- Identifies barriers and policy needs for the deployment of zero-emission solutions;
- Builds a comprehensive RD&I roadmap for innovation and funding for IWT.
Main topics addressed during the workshop
PLATINA4Action Technology Transfer Workshops are regional events, organized for shippers and barge owners/operators following a TEN-T Corridor-specific fleet approach, i.e., addressing different vessel types operating on particular waterway networks.
The workshop consisted of two dedicated thematic sessions.
- Thematic session 1 – Steps towards decarbonization and emission reductions in IWT
This thematic session focused on energy transition, greening of the inland fleet, and alternative fuels, with special attention given to methanol as a potentially clean future fuel for inland navigation. The session addressed research and innovation activities for green and connected IWT, considering the developments and the results of other EU-funded projects, such as the SYNERGETICS project. The SYNERGETICS project presented its new development, the Decision Support Tool for Vessel Owners, looking for optimal fleet retrofit solutions. This tool provides a forecast for the Total Cost of Ownership, emission reductions, and a comparison with the reference situation. In the framework of this session, the DC Secretariat presented its politically and economically viable solutions resulting in short-term measurable CO2 savings, “Actions towards a zero-emission Danube fleet”, developed in cooperation with Priority Area 1a of EUSDR.
- Thematic session 2 – Digitalization in IWT
This thematic session addressed digitalization in IWT as one of the important pillars in the future development of smart and connected IWT and the related actions of NAIADES III. It provided an overview of the relevant activities in CESNI TI and the work of the leading EU-funded projects, such as COMEX2, MultiRELOAD, AVIS, and DiVINE, followed by interactive discussions.
