The MESA project lent support to the WATERBORNE Technology Platform, to reinforce the effectiveness of the research and innovation capacities of the European maritime industry. To that end, it sought to define strategic research and create an innovation agenda that would contribute to narrowing the gap between the research and the subsequent adoption of the results in the market.

The MESA methodology was structured so as to foster the identification of new market needs and the creation of innovative ideas through participatory processes. These processes involved the formation of specialized working groups in specific technology-related areas such as energy efficiency, safety, production, and e-maritime programmes.

The results of the MESA Project formed part of the Strategic Agenda for Research and Innovation in the maritime sector. For each of the four thematic areas (energy efficiency, safety, production and e-maritime) a review of the state of the art was carried out, priority research areas were identified and proposals were made regarding the innovation paths to follow in order to bring the results of the research to market.