Canadian Maritime and Port Decarbonization R&D Partnering Delegation to France

Global Affairs Canada, through the Embassy of Canada to France and in cooperation with the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), invites you to apply to participate in the Canadian Maritime and Port Decarbonization R&D Partnering Delegation to France under the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP).

The Partnership Development Activity (PDA) will take place in person in France from June 1 to 5, 2026, inclusive.

Please note that interested companies must apply no later than March  29, 2026.  

The purpose of this delegation is to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find potential partners in France. Its main goal is to create co-innovation projects in the maritime and port decarbonization sector.

Targeted partners may include:

• French SMEs
• research institutes
• large French companies

The delegation will focus mainly on the following:

• jointly developing new products and/or services by combining Canadian and French technologies
• validating the potential of Canadian technology in the French and European markets
• adapting Canadian technology to the needs and characteristics of these markets

To participate, Canadian companies must meet the following requirements:

• be a profit-oriented SME incorporated in Canada
• have previous experience in or be working toward commercializing technology in Canada or internationally
• have capacity for and interest in co-developing technology with French partners
• be committed to expanding activities to the French and European market
• have sufficient capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results

This delegation is aimed at companies working on technologies related to:

• the decarbonization of marine transportation     
  • reducing emissions from ships
  • improving energy efficiency
  • retrofitting 
  • optimizing marine operations
• sustainable ports and port infrastructure 
  • electrification
  • low-carbon port equipment
  • energy management
  • port–ship interfaces
  • transforming ports into green transition platforms
• digital solutions and data for ports and the maritime sector 
  • emission monitoring and reduction tools
  • optimizing stopovers and logistics flows
  • smart systems, modelling and decision support
• climate resilience and adapting port and maritime systems 
  • solutions for anticipating and managing the impact of climate change on infrastructure, operations and supply chains
• engineering, services and cross-cutting solutions 
  • engineering
  • systems integration
  • innovative services and demonstrators
  • hybrid approaches that contribute to the sector’s low-carbon transition

The program will include a number of business-to-business (B2B) meetings and activities with key organizations in the French maritime and port sector. The goal is to create concrete opportunities for co-innovation cooperation, industrial partnerships and pilot projects between Canadian and French players.

The program will specifically include the following:

• an information session and preparatory meetings before departure, as well as mentoring on pitching techniques in France
• sessions on the French market and co-innovation funding opportunities
• pitches by Canadian companies to French players (start-ups, SMEs, large industrial groups, ports, research centres, and innovation hubs and clusters)
• targeted B2B meetings with French companies, ports and research organizations (approximately 3 to 5 meetings per participating company)
• networking events with key players in the French maritime and port ecosystem
• visits to strategic sites and infrastructure in the ecosystems of Paris, Lorient, Saint-Nazaire/Nantes and Marseille, including ports, innovation platforms and industrial sites
• participation in the Navexpo show in Lorient

A strategic, structured environment for maritime and port decarbonization

France is one of the European countries most involved in the energy transition in the maritime and port sector. It has an industrial, port and innovation ecosystem that is particularly favourable to the development and deployment of solutions for decarbonizing marine transportation and port infrastructures, as well as the implementation of international co-innovation projects.

Leading port and industrial ecosystems

France relies on a number of complementary, strategic maritime hubs that offer unique environments for experimentation and industrialization:

• Marseille–Fos
  • France’s leading port
  • driver of hydrogen
  • alternative fuels and wharf electrification
• HAROPA Port (Le Havre – Rouen – Paris)
  • major logistics axis in northern Europe
  • involved in port decarbonization
  • multimodal logistics and modal shift
• Nantes–Saint-Nazaire
  • important industrial and naval hub in Europe (shipbuilding, complex systems, marine energy)
• Lorient
  • a recognized testing ground for innovative maritime technologies 
• Île-de-France
  • engineering, R&D, financing and piloting hub for major industrial and port projects

Strongly structured industry and innovation

The French ecosystem is structured around unifying players that encourage collaborative projects and co-innovation:

• the Pôle Mer Méditerranée and Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, specializing in maritime and port R&D projects
• the Cluster Maritime Français, bringing together the nation’s entire maritime industry
• GICAN, representing the industry’s manufacturers, shipyards and equipment suppliers
• leading technology platforms and research centres (CEA, Ifremer, technological institutes, technocampus)

Industry leaders involved in the transition

France is home to a number of international industrial players that are driving maritime decarbonization, including the following:

• CMA CGM, involved in alternative fuels, reducing shipping emissions, and innovation with its ZEBOX incubator
• Chantiers de l’Atlantique, global leader in low-carbon shipbuilding
• Naval Group, a key player in naval innovation and advanced maritime systems
• a dense network of SMEs and start-ups developing solutions for low-carbon propulsion, dockside electrification, alternative fuels, digitization and energy optimization

A policy and financial framework conducive to international co-innovation

Maritime decarbonization is a part of some ambitious French and European strategies, including the following:

• the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC) and national port strategy, aimed at reducing emissions from shipping and port activities
• the national hydrogen strategy and plans for supporting alternative marine fuels
• European funding and cooperation programs, such as Horizon Europe and Eureka, which are open to international R&D and innovation partnerships

The CIIP may provide financial support to eligible Canadian SMEs to cover up to 50% of all eligible expenses, including but not limited to:

• economy airfare
• local transportation
• accommodation
• meals
• conference registration fees

1. Click the “Apply” button to access the online application form. Select the official language of your choice and the delegation you want to apply to, then complete all questions.
2. Completed applications must be submitted online no later than March 29, 2026.
3. Global Affairs Canada, through the Embassy of Canada to France, and NRC IRAP will select the Canadian companies that will participate in the delegation. Selected applicants will be notified no later than April 3, 2026.
4. Selected companies will be invited to apply for financial support for eligible expenses.

Participation is limited. Applications will be evaluated to determine eligibility to participate in this co-innovation delegation based on the quality of the information provided. In addition to the technical merits of the proposed technology, the company’s internal capacity to adequately support and manage an international R&D project with French partners will be considered.

Universities, research technology organizations (RTOs), incubators and industry associations are invited to apply for the delegation but will not be eligible for financial support for travel or participation costs.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the CIIP web page or email CIIP at innovation@international.gc.ca.