Hydro Testing Forum (HTF) was established on 1 September 2011 and has its roots in the previous European Network of Excellence (NoE) project, "Hydro-Testing Alliance (HTA)" under the auspices of the European Commission (EC)'s 6th  Framework Programme (FP6). The HTA NoE aimed to facilitate the continuation of the world leadership of the European Hydrodynamic Testing Facilities and was funded by the EC over five years, completing successfully on 31 August 2011. 

The common interest of the HTA Project partners was the advancement of measurement and analysis techniques used for testing ship and offshore structure models in the institutes' water basins. In HTA various groups of researchers had developed new technologies under the framework of Joint Research Projects (JRPs) of the HTA. For such new technologies, there was also a need for guidelines for measurement and analysis development, as well as procedures for hydrodynamic and related structural testing. These guidelines would ensure a uniform approach which could be adopted and implemented by the model testing institutions. Several activities within the HTA project were used to raise awareness of the marine hydro-testing facilities and also to promote the industry to both male and female students and researchers. These activities included the biannual, unique International Conference series, "The Advanced Model Measurement Technologies for the Maritime Industry (AMT)". 

Based on the above-mentioned common interest, the main objective of the HTA was to develop a formal and lasting structure to coordinate the definition and introduction of novel measurement, observation and analysis technologies for hydrodynamic (scale) model testing environments. The coordination of development, the sharing of advanced equipment and the dissemination of knowledge and guidelines aimed at more integrated and efficient use of marine testing capacity within Europe. 

At the end of the HTA funding period (2011), most of the 17 member organisations of the HTA had signed contracts of admission to the Hydro Testing Forum (HTF), the formal and longer-lasting continuation of the HTA. Under the newly formed HTF, members would have access to Communities of Practice (CoPs), similar to the JRPs of HTA, to work on any subject they prefer. 

The parties interested in and qualified to join such CoP can apply under certain conditions. The Forum network will organise twice a year a meeting and forum day, during which the CoPs will meet and a half-day forum will be held on general topics of interest to the international hydrodynamic model testing society. Herein, members can present ideas for joint projects (Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) with institutes and industry) on testing technology, e.g., measurement system qualification, analysis tools and methodologies, etc. The forum will also provide opportunities to initiate a new CoP on a subject of interest.