The future of shipbuilding is made today

MERiON program

MERiON is Meyer Turku’s new leading company program which focuses on strengthening the shipbuilding industry through ecological, digital and geopolitical changes. The program brings together companies, universities and research institutes to develop solutions for cruise ships and floating infrastructure.

MERiON – Future‑Ready Cruise Ships and Floating Infrastructure is part of Business Finland’s leading company funding program, which challenges companies to increase their research, development, and innovation (RDI) investments in Finland. The new program will be implemented between 2026 and 2030, and it continues Meyer Turku’s long-term RDI efforts following the previous NEcOLEAP program. The long-term objective of the new program is to ensure that Turku remains at the forefront of modern and technologically advanced shipbuilding also in the decades to come.

MERiON Themes and Research Areas

MERiON themes and research areas

MERiON projects are divided into three main clusters:

  1. Future operations and circularity
  2. Future structures and materials
  3. Future maritime technologies.

The goal is to develop cruise ship concepts for the coming decades and to study floating structures that can be integrated into ships’ operating environments, allowing certain functions to be transferred from cruise ships to floating infrastructure.

MERiON projects will develop technologies that respond both to increasingly stringent environmental requirements and to the needs of a rapidly changing business environment. The research will focus particularly on circular economy solutions, digitalisation, structural design, clean energy solutions, and net zero materials.

The maritime industry is of strategic importance to Finland, and strong RDI activities enable us to maintain our leading position in international markets. Through MERiON, we can respond even better to our customers’ changing needs, strengthen our ecosystem, and create new business opportunities for the entire Finnish maritime cluster.

– Tom Degerman, Chief Commercial Officer at Meyer Turku

MERiON Roadmap

MERiON roadmap
Join the MERiON ecosystem

Join the MERiON ecosystem

The MERiON program is carried out in close collaboration with a research ecosystem. The aim of this cooperation is to strengthen the capabilities and global competitiveness of the entire ecosystem. Over the lifetime of the program, MERiON will increase the combined RDI investments of Meyer Turku and its ecosystem partners by up to EUR 85 million.

We are looking for companies, universities, and research institutions of all sizes to join our project. By joining our ecosystem, you can gain access to new business and growth opportunities, among other benefits, and take advantage of RDI funding instruments offered by Business Finland and the EU. In addition, you’ll receive up-to-date information and have the chance to influence the future direction of the maritime industry.

Contact us by email at gtlab@meyerturku.fi and we will provide you with further instructions on how to join the ecosystem!

Contact us

The MERiON program is managed by the GT Lab (Green Transition Lab), Meyer Turku’s open innovation unit. You may contact us at gtlab@meyerturku.fi.

MERiON Program Director:
Ida Ervasti
ida.ervasti@meyerturku.fi

Ecosystem Lead:
Ilkka Rytkölä
ilkka.rytkola@meyerturku.fi
+358407492725

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NEcOLEAP brought maritime industry pioneers together

The research and development work carried out under NEcOLEAP, Meyer Turku’s previous leading company program, focused on four themes: the vessels themselves, shipbuilding, smart technology and future developments.

Read more about NEcOLEAP