Project Objective

The concept of VISIONS-OLYMPICS, a Support project targeting call SST.2008.6.3 Encouraging step changes / radical technology changes in the surface transport sector focused on developing innovative maritime products incorporating knowledge, design and manufacturing procedures meeting future market needs and to evaluate their feasibility and analyse the needs for further research and development.

Many stakeholders participated to achieve the ambitious goal. Industry, universities, research institutions and organisations, collaborated for making the innovative ideas happen. The bridge between universities, industry and organisations has been reinforced and reconfirmed guaranteeing success.

In order to meet the primary objective of the call, supporting the development of transport specific innovations that could deliver step changes into efficiency and cleanness in the next 20 years and beyond, a systematic approach has been adopted using existing appropriate communication platforms and strategies within and outside the waterborne sector.

VISIONS-OLYMPICS took from the unspoiled / unbiased creative minds of the young generation that:

– offered out of the box concepts and ideas for the future of European maritime transport;
– developed these ideas within an environment where purpose driven innovation is cultivated and performed in a risk free environment;
– built bridges and enhanced coordination between European Union (EU) research networks and strengthened the partnership between research universities and industry;
– enhanced the skills of future employees in a highly competitive environment;
– offered targeted dissemination to industry.

In terms of Facts, to VISIONS-OLYMPICS contests year 2010 and year 2011 have been participated more than 200 students and more than 50 new concepts of projects ideas have been submitted. Two books with the collection of the innovative ideas submitted for the contests have been published and disseminated. The two awards have been sponsored by two major European maritime industries IHC-Merwede and Meyer Werft. A third contest is ongoing while the fourth is now under preparation already. All together the VISIONS-OLYMPICS contests sum up to eight editions (dating back to the VISIONS-NoE project) establishing this students competition as the most known and best attended in Europe in the maritime sector.