BMFTR – Maritime Security and Infrastructure

Funding is provided for joint projects in Germany to maintain and enhance safety in maritime areas.

Within its Forschung für die zivile Sicherheit – Gemeinsam für ein sicheres Leben in einer resilienten Gesellschaft (SIFO – Research for Civil Security – Together for a Safe Life in a Resilient Society) Programme, this initiative (Stärkung maritimer Sicherheit und Verbesserungdes Schutzes maritimer Infrastrukturen) by the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR – Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space) aims to sustainably enhance the security of sea routes and maritime infrastructure through the development and deployment of innovative technologies, appropriate preventive or reactive measures and cross-sector strategic concepts.

Funding is provided for interdisciplinary, pre-competitive collaborative projects which, through their innovative technologies, measures and strategies, contribute to further enhancing the security of sea routes and maritime infrastructure.

The starting point should be an analysis of existing or future threat scenarios and their consequences. Projects should be based on security scenarios and provide a comprehensive description of the research subject. The integration of expertise and findings from military science research in the field of maritime security can also contribute to this.

Key focus areas include:

• Operational support for search and rescue (SAR) teams and crisis management.
• Improved and robust positioning.
• Enhanced resilience of relevant maritime stakeholders.
• A shared and comprehensive situational picture, as well as cooperative collaboration and communication between relevant civilian and non-civilian maritime stakeholders.
• Deployment and detection of unmanned and, where applicable, autonomous systems above and below the water.
• Challenges posed by autonomous shipping.

BMFTR has appointed the project management agency VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH to administer the programme on its behalf.