PLEN
Research foundation · Gdańsk, Poland

Research-driven solutions for the maritime economy

We bridge scientific research with the practice of ports, municipalities and institutions. We work on maritime transport, water protection and digital transformation – in European projects across the Baltic Sea Region.

See our projects Contact

Four interconnected research domains

We help our partners boost operational efficiency, improve strategic decision-making and better align with European policies and regulations.

01

Maritime transport and logistics

Port operation concepts and strategies, cargo flow optimisation, connecting inland waterways with sea transport systems, intermodal transport, short-sea shipping and safety of maritime and inland navigation – regionally and across Europe.

02

Environment and water quality

Water quality management in coastal and transitional zones, environmental impacts of port and maritime activities, circular economy and climate adaptation for the maritime sector – tailored to local ecological and regulatory conditions.

03

Digital innovation

Frameworks for AI-based analytical platforms, simulation models and intelligent management systems that enable evidence-based decisions in ports and transport agencies. We implement them together with IT specialists.

04

Strategic consulting and analysis

Spatial planning for port zones, economic viability studies, socio-economic impact assessments and development strategies aligned with European transport corridors and blue economy opportunities.

Projects

International projects in which K2 Solutions is a partner. Select a project to read the full description and our role.

0implemented projects
0years of experience

For more than two decades we have been connecting research with the practice of ports, municipalities and institutions in the Baltic Sea Region.

About us

An independent research institution

K2 Solutions specialises in the maritime economy, water transport systems, environmental management and digital innovation. Our interdisciplinary team comprises researchers and experts with extensive experience in port operations, inland waterway networks, environmental protection, ICT solutions and economic analysis.

We operate within European R&D frameworks, coordinating and implementing EU-funded projects. Our work bridges scientific research with practical applications, delivering analytical tools, strategic development plans and evidence-based policy recommendations.

We collaborate with ports, municipalities, research institutions, universities and international consortia across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. While our main experience is with Polish ports and institutions, we serve clients and partners across Europe.

Gender Equality Plan (GEP), PDF

Our activities are supported and co-financed by:

Interreg South Baltic, co-funded by the European Union Funded by the European Union – Horizon Europe Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education

Let's talk

Looking for a project partner, expert assessment or analysis? Write or call us.

Address

K2 Solutions Foundation
Gdańsk Science Park – Technology
ul. Trzy Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdańsk, Poland

E-mail

k2solutions@k2solutions.pl

Phone

+48 512 200 995

Registration data

KRS: 0000717854
NIP (VAT): 9571101791
REGON: 369478678

Interreg South Baltic 2021–2027 · ongoing

PortSHAZ – Enhanced Eco-Efficient Cargo Operations

PortSHAZ project graphic
Duration
07.2024 – 06.2027
Lead partner
Elbląg Sea Port Authority
K2 role
WP3 lead – CargoShield
K2 budget
EUR 223,250

K2 Solutions partners in the PortSHAZ project “Enhanced Eco-Efficient Cargo Operations”, part of the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027 and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027, PortSHAZ addresses environmental hazards in dry bulk cargo operations across South Baltic ports.

Tackling regional environmental risks

Ports in the South Baltic handle over 45 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo annually. A 0.05% leak releases 22,500 tonnes of fertilisers and 2,250 tonnes of phosphorus each year, fuelling eutrophication, algal blooms, hypoxia and economic losses. PortSHAZ aims to cut leakages by up to 25%.

Typical problems include uncovered transfer points (hoppers, chutes, conveyors), insufficient drainage without filters, regulatory deficiencies under MARPOL Annex V (fertilisers not deemed harmful) and fragmented responsibilities among operators, authorities and municipalities.

Joint framework across borders

Led by Elbląg Sea Port Authority Ltd. (Poland), the consortium includes Race For The Baltic (Sweden – initial designs and best practices), Coastal Research and Planning Institute CORPI (Lithuania – hazard analysis), INWL Non-Profit Institute (Germany – logistics strategies), Port of Vordingborg (Denmark – pilot testing and design improvement) and K2 Solutions (technical innovation). The project covers Pomorskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Sydsverige, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Klaipėda and Denmark.

K2 Solutions’ central contributions

K2 Solutions leads CargoShield in WP3, managing research, prototyping, pilots (Elbląg, Rostock, Vordingborg), analysis and recommendations. We designed the prevention cover with HDO/composite plywood, pine lattice, SBR lining, steel frames, swivel wheels and a TK800 container, optimised for small ports and tough conditions.

K2 coordinates pilots, refines designs using KPIs such as leakage reduction and contributes to WP2 publications, including “Clean Ports”, supporting dissemination through workshops, networks and guidelines. Our hands-on work – from Gdańsk prototypes to field testing – ensures practical, scalable solutions integrated into daily port operations.

Ambitious scope and long-term reach

PortSHAZ’s phases span from early reviews (2024–2025) to strategies (2026–2027), aiming for regional adoption beyond the partnership. It tackles system barriers such as underreporting, inertia and funding gaps through data tools, training and policy efforts (HELCOM BSAP, EU Water Framework Directive). By project end, expect validated technology, SOPs and monitoring; a post-project plan ensures sustainability through local partnerships, training, supervision and a task force of consortium members.

More information: portshaz.eu

Funding

The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the Internationally Co-Financed Projects Programme (PWM).

Project titleEnhanced Eco-Efficient Cargo Operations / Zwiększenie Ekologicznej Efektywności Operacji Przeładunkowych
Project numberSTHB.02.02-IP.01-0005/23-00
Budget of K2 SolutionsEUR 223,250
ERDF co-financing for K2 SolutionsEUR 178,600
PWM co-financing for K2 SolutionsPLN 174,921
Date of signing the contract12.09.2025
Logos: Interreg South Baltic, European Union, Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education
Horizon Europe · Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” · ongoing

Tools4CleanBANOS

Programme
Horizon Europe
Call
HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-02
Project funding
approx. EUR 5.5 m
K2 role
Digital architecture, AI

K2 Solutions Foundation is a partner in the Tools4CleanBANOS project, responding to the HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-02 call under Horizon Europe’s Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. Building on previous EU efforts to cut marine litter, the project raises Technology Readiness Levels from 6 to 8, creating a user-focused toolbox for authorities and stakeholders.

Aim

The project targets marine plastic litter through a land-to-river-to-sea approach in the Baltic and North Sea basins, where river inputs threaten marine ecosystems. It includes advanced monitoring protocols with multispectral imaging, LiDAR, satellite data and in-situ sampling for accurate detection and quantification of litter sources and hotspots, supported by machine learning and predictive models.

The toolbox offers cost-effective, eco-friendly removal technologies that minimise bycatch, along with prevention strategies such as waste management, awareness campaigns, education and sector partnerships. Activities follow Marine Strategy Framework Directive guidelines, with open data via EMODnet, and support the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan target to cut plastics entering seas by 50% by 2030.

Demonstration

At least three use cases will be deployed across three countries – in river deltas, urban discharge points and interception zones – engaging regional authorities, municipalities and waterway management entities.

K2 Solutions’ role

K2 leads advancements in digital architecture, integration and scalability, including through EDITO. Our expertise covers frontend and UX development (WCAG-compliant, cross-browser, mobile-optimised), AI-powered knowledge management, iterative testing and secure cloud deployment. We develop AI models for hotspot detection and forecasting using hydrodynamic, land-use and meteorological data, create interactive content such as 3D infographics, and build decision-support modules such as multicriteria matrices – all refined via V-model engineering from requirements to validation.

We invite academic partners to collaborate on development and validation.
EIT Water · ongoing

EIT AllWaters – a new wave for Europe’s water future

EIT AllWaters

Europe faces a crucial decade for water and the blue economy. As the consortium chosen to establish EIT Water – the tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology – AllWaters aims to protect water resilience, promote breakthrough innovation and treat waters as drivers of sustainable growth. For K2 Solutions, this partnership means helping Europe tackle its key water challenges.

EIT Water

After a competitive call in January 2025 and expert evaluation, the EIT Governing Board selected the AllWaters consortium in November 2025 to address water scarcity, droughts, floods and ecosystem degradation. EIT Water connects education, research and business, with an integrated approach across inland waters, coasts and oceans.

A pan-European community with local roots

EIT Water will unite 50 partners – universities, research groups, companies, ports, clusters, NGOs and authorities – and establish eight Co-Location Centres in Aarhus, Leeds, Berlin, Antwerp, Vienna, Šibenik, Málaga and Varna. Start-ups working on nature-based flood protection or smart port solutions will be able to access testbeds, markets and expertise across Europe.

Ambition backed by long-term investment

EIT Water will receive up to EUR 5 million in start-up funding through 2026, with full operations launching in 2027. By 2033 it aims to see hundreds of innovations marketed, dozens of start-ups created and over a thousand start-ups and scale-ups supported.

K2 Solutions’ role

Our focus on the maritime economy, water transport and environmental protection aligns with EIT Water’s goal to connect science, industry and regions around a blue-economy vision. Through AllWaters, we co-create solutions for ports, coasts and inland waterways, support start-ups and researchers, and promote innovation in Baltic and European maritime regions.
Interreg South Baltic 2014–2020 · completed

PortSHAZ Seed Money – a catalyst for greener South Baltic ports

PortSHAZ logo
Duration
05.2023 – 08.2023
Lead partner
Port of Elbląg
Countries
PL, SE, LT
K2 role
Research, partnerships, promotion

Launched on 1 May 2023 and completed by 31 August 2023 under the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014–2020, the project addressed port cargo leakage – fertilisers, grains, sand and coal. With over 45 million tonnes passing through Baltic ports annually, even small spills threaten the South Baltic ecosystem.

Partnership

The project was founded by four organisations from Poland, Sweden and Lithuania. Led by the Port of Elbląg, it built on experience from Transport Loops and INCONE60. Race for the Baltic contributed expertise on Baltic Sea health, especially eutrophication; CORPI provided marine policy insights and impact assessments. K2 Solutions handled research, partnerships, promotion and dissemination, analysing cargo handling and exploring zero-emission and circular economy opportunities.

Activities

The project reviewed frameworks and tools from ECOSHAZ and INCONE60 to identify data and practice gaps for small ports. The key event was a cross-border workshop on 19–20 June 2023 in Elbląg and Gdańsk with 18 experts from Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark and Sweden: day one covered cooperation, green technology and fertiliser pilots with a port tour; day two, on a Gdańsk Bay cruise, focused on tasks, budget and partnerships.

Workshop room with a PortSHAZ presentation
Project workshop, June 2023

Results

All tasks were completed, a stakeholder network was built (including Vordingborg and Ramboll), and a concept paper on risks and mitigations with four work packages was produced. On this basis, a 36-month PortSHAZ project with seven partners was prepared.

FundingInterreg South Baltic, European Regional Development Fund
Swedish Institute · 2021–2023 · completed

URBAN-LOOP

URBAN-LOOP logo

Imagine a busy Baltic city block with rooftops full of greenery, providing fresh produce for local tables. The URBAN-LOOP project (2021–2023), funded by the Swedish Institute, promoted the circular economy through building-integrated agriculture (BIA) in the Baltic Sea Region. Led by UCV and Campus Roslagen AB, it involved partners from Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and beyond.

Aims

URBAN-LOOP tackled food import reliance, land loss from urban growth, water scarcity caused by climate change and Baltic Sea eutrophication from agriculture. It promoted solutions such as aquaponics, combining fish farming and plant cultivation for efficient, year-round urban food production with water and nutrient recycling. The goals support the EU Green Deal, the EUSBSR bio-economy and UN SDGs 6, 9 and 11–14.

The project built stakeholder networks, co-created knowledge through workshops and visits, and identified pilot buildings for future BIA. Outputs included country reports on circular farming, a regional synthesis and groundwork for Interreg and Horizon Europe bids.

K2 Solutions’ role

As the Polish partner, K2 Solutions built the stakeholder network, organised workshops (such as in September 2021 with Przywidz Commune and Green Gate on aquaponics), conducted research, shared information and visited Sweden. We coordinated local efforts, including eco-municipalities and aquaponics facilities. The results were showcased at the 2023 event in Riga.

FundingSwedish Institute
Swedish Institute · completed February 2021

TRANSwater

The TRANSWATER project, funded by the Swedish Institute, concluded in February 2021 after building transnational partnerships across Sweden, Poland and Latvia to enhance water resilience in the transitional coastal zones of the Baltic Sea Region.

The challenge

Coastal zones near river mouths with partial salinity face risks from tourism, climate change and poor wastewater management – especially as summer cottages turn into permanent homes. They experience water scarcity, eutrophication, salinity intrusion and pollution. Cross-border cooperation is vital for shared aquifers and the Baltic Sea.

Achievements

Country-specific workshops and reports were delivered. K2’s analysis showed about 26,000 m³ of untreated wastewater discharged into Puck Bay annually. Cross-border exchanges identified causes such as inadequate onsite systems and policy gaps, and revealed that stakeholders were aware of the issues but lacked solutions – paving the way for adopting Swedish best practices.

K2 Solutions’ role

As the Polish partner, K2 Solutions identified stakeholders such as communes and water utilities, organised workshops and researched the effects of seasonal tourism in Puck Bay and on the Hel Peninsula. We authored a report with recommendations on spatial planning, septic tank inspections and awareness campaigns, engaging mayors, environmental experts and utilities.

FundingSwedish Institute