The Port of Hamburg (homePORT), the Port of Halifax (The PIER), and the Port of Valencia (Opentop) have started working on the design and implementation of the first network of innovation centres in ports.
This new programme was announced during the Port Entrepreneurship International Congress, which was organised by Opentop and hosted as part of the Valencia Digital Summit.
The goal is to establish a worldwide network of port innovators. This aims to drive innovation adoption in the global port system by connecting communities of innovation centres, such as startups, entrepreneurs, companies, researchers, universities, and investors, to share innovative ideas, project results, innovation experiences, methodologies, and best practises.
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Dr. Phanthian Zuesongdham, Head of the Port Process Solution Division of the Hamburg Port Authority, stated: “For any innovation hub it is of utmost importance to share with other hubs our best practices from homePORT in collaboration between each port and the members of its innovation community and to communicate the benefits and results of innovative projects with the network members.
“Also, we would like to learn from others to improve our services to our community, too.”
Antonio Torregrosa, CEO of the Valenciaport Foundation, the entity leading Opentop, added: “This kind of initiative has the potential to leverage the existing capabilities of innovation hubs globally, offering test spaces in the ports of the network’s innovation hubs, workspaces and collaborative platforms to be used as technology testbeds for members and partners from other hubs in the network.”
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Michael Davie, Vice President of Operations and Technology at the Port of Halifax, added: “The connection of the three hubs will bring additional international perspective to each of the hubs and their members.
“This will allow us to think more globally and have a greater understanding of international culture, ideas and solutions to complex problems that would benefit start-up projects at the local level and expand existing capabilities for technology testing and demonstrations.”
