Free MARIN test time for maritime SMEs in 2018
In recent years MARIN offered maritime SMEs free tank time for testing innovative ideas. Because of its success, the fifth round will follow in 2018. The offer is intended for SMEs who want to research a new maritime concept: to see if it works, to improve it or to demonstrate it. With this initiative, MARIN wants to help Dutch SMEs to take an important step in the development of their innovation. You can register until 31 December 2017.
It involves new ideas and concepts, not optimization of existing designs and design tests; there are MARIN's normal projects and rates for that. The possible projects are diverse: from floating wind turbines and solar panels to large kites for generating wind energy. In 2017 the free tank time was offered to Tocardo, Ampyx Power, Aurelia BV, Oceans of Energy and Blue21. For these projects most of the tests have been carried out in the meantime.
The five newly selected projects for 2018 will all receive two weeks of tank time (including preparations and test time) in the MARIN Concept Basin or the MARIN Shallow Water Basin. This two weeks includes an experienced experimenter, who operates the systems and helps the clients to carry out the tests. Also included is a preparatory day for consultation with an experienced MARIN Project Manager and a MARIN Project Engineer. Together they discuss the concept, the best approach to the tests and the support required by MARIN. MARIN's total offer is roughly € 40,000 per project. Customers can bring their own models and participate in the test execution themselves. MARIN can of course also make the models, and will then charge for this. The same applies to analyzes and reporting by MARIN. Experience from previous years shows that participants themselves invest some € 20,000 - € 30,000 in these tests. MARIN's offer for free trial time helps the SME customer to make this important step in the further development of their concept easier.
Everything is done confidentially and the knowledge gained during the tests is entirely from the SME itself. The MARIN offer is also not a government subsidy. MARIN sees it as its contribution to Dutch maritime innovation: MARIN has modern facilities and is the largest independent maritime test institute in the world. MARIN works for large shippers, shipyards and energy companies. MARIN wants to use the facilities and experience to help Dutch maritime SMEs.
Interested companies can register using the registration form with a description of their concept and the tests they would like to perform. The deadline is 31 December 2017. MARIN itself selects the most innovative and promising projects from the submissions.
Go to www.marin.nl/mkb for more information and to register via the registration form. Or contact Jaap de Wilde, 0317-493493 / j.dewilde@marin.nl.
