Plug and Play launches innovation initiative at Port of Antwerp

Global innovation platform Plug and Play, together with its co-founders the Port of Antwerp, the City of Antwerp, CMB, DXC Technology and Euronav, has launched a programme aimed at testing new technologies and accelerating innovation in the maritime industry.

The platform aims to develop an innovative ecosystem of start-ups to strengthen the maritime sector by attracting new technologies and entrepreneurs to the region.

The core of Plug and Play Maritime will be a twelve-week program on open innovation that is organized twice a year.

During each edition, more than twenty international start-ups are invited to respond to the specific technological needs of the co-founders.

The start-ups and the relevant business units of the partner companies will collaborate on pilot projects and concept demonstrations, to ultimately achieve production-ready implementations.

The aim is to complete at least one joint project per start-up, which will then be presented on the EXPO day, the closing event of each edition.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp, said, “As a leading world port, Antwerp wants to set the tone as the ‘port of the future’. We use innovation as a lever to turn today’s major challenges, such as the energy transition, digitization and mobility, into solutions.

“By working together and focusing on technologies such as big data, Internet of Things, smart shipping and innovative logistics, we make our port smarter and more efficient.

“I am convinced that Plug and Play Maritime is an important milestone in taking our port to a higher international level and positioning it as a leading innovation platform.”

Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO of Plug and Play, also commented, “With the launch of our first maritime platform in Antwerp, we are embarking on a whole new adventure at Plug and Play.

“We are eager to support our co-founders and the local community of innovators through our global ecosystem that fosters fruitful collaboration between start-ups and large companies.”

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/plug-and-play-launches-innovation-initiative-at-port-of-antwerp/