The MARPOWER project aims to develop a cutting-edge gas turbine-based energy conversion system for electricity generation and cogeneration aboard marine vessels. This system is designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and support the use of alternative fuels, positioning it as a key innovation for the maritime industry. Bringing together a highly multidisciplinary consortium of 11 expert entities, the project focuses on key areas such as turbomachinery, alternative fuels and combustion, energy conversion, gas turbines, bearing systems, heat recovery, digital twins, shipbuilding, and project consulting.
Among these expert partners is Zabala Innovation, a European consulting firm founded in Spain in 1986 and specialising in securing funding for innovation, research, and development projects. With over 550 professionals across 13 offices in major European cities such as Madrid, Brussels, Paris, and Lisbon, Zabala Innovation supports a wide range of clients (including businesses, research institutions, and public entities) in accessing public funding and successfully managing large-scale innovation projects.
With a focus on strategic consulting, Zabala Innovation assists in designing, managing, and implementing innovation projects. Their services include proposal preparation, project management, consortium building, and compliance with funding requirements.
Trusted expertise across Europe’s innovation landscape
Zabala Innovation’s core roles across European projects reflect its broad expertise in managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. To date, Zabala Innovation has been a trusted partner in more than 60 European-funded projects, bringing proven experience across diverse sectors and funding programmes. Their key areas of expertise include:
- Project Management: Coordinating operational and administrative tasks to keep projects on track, on budget, and fully compliant with EU requirements.
- Exploitation of Results: Identifying paths to market, safeguarding intellectual property, and assessing socio-economic impact to ensure long-term value and sustainability.
- Dissemination and Communication: Implementing strategic outreach to share results, engage stakeholders, publish findings, organise events, and enhance digital visibility.
- Social Innovation: Supporting the development of sustainable, inclusive solutions aligned with EU policy goals in areas like health, the environment, and social equity.
- Management of Cascade Funding: Overseeing financial support mechanisms for SMEs and startups, including proposal evaluation and legal-financial compliance.
Zabala Innovation also brings experience as a partner in other EU-funded transport and energy projects, including ALRIGH2T, NEXTBAT, and RECET4Rail, reinforcing its leadership in innovation consulting within Horizon Europe.
Key roles in MARPOWER
In MARPOWER, Zabala Innovation plays a crucial dual role:
- Leading Support in Project Coordination and Management, handling administrative, legal, and financial coordination tasks. This includes supporting the project coordinator with day-to-day management of technical and administrative issues, financial control, and the preparation and submission of progress, interim, and continuous reports to the European Commission.
- Leading the Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation work package, working closely with the entire consortium alongside LUT University (leading Knowledge Management and IP) and RINA Consulting (leading Exploitation). Zabala Innovation is responsible for crafting targeted communication strategies, organising dissemination activities, and promoting public engagement. Its role is key in ensuring that project results reach the right audiences, are properly valued, and have a lasting impact.
Key team members
The core Zabala Innovation team working on the MARPOWER project includes:
- Diana Blanco, an Industrial Engineer with a Master’s in Energy and Energy Sustainability, plays a key leadership role in supporting the coordination and management of the MARPOWER project. She works alongside Juan Carlos Pérez, PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Louvain (Belgium), who serves as the Operational Coordinator of European Projects at Zabala Innovation’s Vigo office
- Blanca del Guayo and Mariano Echávarri, experienced journalists, are responsible for communication and dissemination, ensuring the project’s visibility and stakeholder engagement.
With its strategic vision and hands-on expertise, Zabala Innovation plays a key role in ensuring MARPOWER’s operational success and long-term contribution to a more sustainable and innovative maritime sector.