Research and Innovation - Focus

The Swedish Maritime Administration, SMA, is responsible for research and innovation motivated by the SMA's tasks and for following and documenting research and innovation in the maritime area.

The Swedish Maritime Administration has a great need for development of its operations in order to be able to conduct its operations even more efficiently in accordance with the instruction, the authority regulation and the state employer strategy. In its R&I activities, SMA shall focus onthe strategic development areas decided by its Board .

The majority of the Swedish Maritime Administration's development areas are dependent on active innovation work. Innovation work is absolutely crucial for the developments taking advantage of the opportunities of digitalization, the fairways of the future and the service development required for streamlining the port call process, the development of navigation support from shore (remote pilotage) and the service development linked to route sharing and the new S-100 standards. In addition, innovation work contributes to efficiency improvements and reduced costs and environmental benefits, for example through the development of UAS (drones) in the authority's various operations with the aim of reducing the use of boats and helicopters.

R&I activities deliver concrete contributions to the authority's various operational activities and help the Swedish Maritime Administration to meet the developments taking place in the world and not least in the international processes within IALA, IMO and the EU.

Collaborations

The Swedish Maritime Administration collaborates in its research and innovation work with industry, academia, the shipping industry and other authorities both in Sweden and internationally. The international regulations and the global dimension of shipping make collaboration outside the borders of Sweden and Europe necessary. Close cooperation within the EU also enables external funding from the EU's various funding programmes for research and innovation.