UG and Meyer Werft sign collaboration agreement | FEB Professor Alan Muller investigates how to create a worldwide sustainability reporting system

The University of Groningen (UG) and the Meyer Werft Papenburg have signed an agreement for a long term partnership until 2050. On Monday 23^rd of July UG Prof. Sibrand Poppema, president of University of Groningen and Meyer Werft director Tim Meyer signed a memorandum of understanding. The two major stakeholders in the Northern Netherlands and North Western Germany are logical partners when it comes to knowledge and innovation. FEB Professor Alan Muller wil lead a project to create a worldwide standard sustainability reporting system.

The goal of the partnership is to support and enlarge the impact of both science and industry in the Northern region. Both parties bundle their forces in the “Innovation Lab Papenburg – Groningen 2018-2050” (IB2050). This contains actual projects between MEYER WERFT and UG to create sustainable and competitive solutions. These projects will combine academic engagement with corporate topics.

The first three projects will be on IT, Energy efficiency and Sustainability.

Project 1, next generation IT within the production environment with Prof. Bayu Jayawardhana

In the smart industry / Industry 4.0 era, information and communication technology are enablers of disruptive innovations in providing a high degree of flexibility in the manufacturing sector. By saving cost and development time improvement of productivity can be reached. The goal is the development of ICT technology that integrates a smart value chain in cruise ships’ industry.

Project 2, Sustainability and the Global Reporting Initiative in international business with Prof. Alan Muller

As a main global player in cruise ship building MEYER WERFT needs to be up front or at least aligned to the international standards on sustainability. The goal of this project is to create a worldwide standard reporting system.  

Project 3, Energy efficiency on cruise ships; grids, fuels/sources and thrust/propulsion with Prof. Jacquelien Scherpen

One of the biggest and most important challenges for a ship builder is to build energy efficient ships. In this project both parties together work on technical solutions for combustion/fuels, propulsion efficiency and renewable energy production.

The priority will be to set up so called Future Rooms, from where all projects and activities will be coordinated. The Future Room in Papenburg will be realised on the Wharf or in the city of Papenburg. The FR in Groningen will most likely be implemented within the Zernike Campus (Start Up City Building) and will be managed by MEYER.