The online version of the Funding Guide for Inland Waterway Transport was launched today at www.naiades.info/funding. Topical and detailed information on funds and subsidies available across Europe is now only a mouse click away.

Despite the commercial success of inland navigation in many different markets, high investment costs and difficult access to finance have often proven to be barriers to innovation and commercial success. Financed by the European Commission and implemented within the framework of the PLATINA project, the Funding Database for Inland Waterway Transport aims to encourage entrepreneurship among private ship owners as well as small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Europe.

Before this initiative, information on funding sources at the European, the national or the regional level has been dispersed over numerous organisations and media. As a result, funding schemes have been difficult to find and have sometimes been under-utilised by the inland waterway sector. Manfred Seitz, managing director of via donau and PLATINA project coordinator: “The online Funding Database is an excellent example of what PLATINA can do, namely providing easy to use and practical services with a real added value for the inland navigation business. The online Funding Database is a short-cut to a host of existing funding opportunities in Europe. Especially in economic times like these, nobody can afford to leave money on the table”.

The Funding Database lets entrepreneurs navigate directly to the support programmes they are looking for, whether on a European or national level. Available in English, Dutch, French and German, the easy-to-use search function allows for targeted queries regarding European and national funding opportunities.

Printed copies of the Funding Guide in English can be still obtained free of charge by sending a short notice to funding@naiades.info. The full version can also be downloaded from www.naiades.info/funding.

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