MarLEN (Maritime Low Emission Network) will be a partnership of European ministries and funding organisations responsible for funding RTD in maritime technologies from European countries. The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the European Research Area in waterborne research by coordinating and developing synergies between national and regional maritime research programmes and policies in line with the aims of the partnership Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT). The activities will include: exchange of information and knowledge among national programme owners and programme managers as well as the implementation of distinct joint activities. MarLEN shall further deepen, broaden and strengthen the already established transnational cooperation based on the experience gained and some existing cooperation structures. New organisations from several partner countries will broaden the network of maritime ministries and funding organisations with the knowledge of former initiatives. Lessons learnt especially from the previous MarTERA project are taken into account in this proposal, aimed at improving and intensifying the transnational cooperation and, most importantly, consolidating it in such a way that it becomes self-sustaining. Further objectives are the broadening, deepening, streamlining and strengthening of the joint activities, including strengthening the existing ongoing trans-national research to cover the whole innovation chain from science to business by launching new transnational activities. However, to fulfil the ambitions of the waterborne transport sector, it is obvious that much more research, development, innovation (RD&I) and investments will be necessary in the coming years to address and respond effectively to the current and future climate and environmental challenges, while taking into account a safe implementation of technologies and concepts.