Within the framework of the 2nd Automation Digital Port Conference, held on the 2nd of October, organized by the Tarragona Smart Mediterranean Region Foundation and the Tarragona Port Authority, the Ports 4.0 Fund was presented.
José Llorca, Head of the State Ports Innovation Area and responsible for the Open Innovation Fund for the Logistics-Port Ecosystem Ports 4.0, explained the objectives, the main characteristics of the regulatory bases and the expected results of this fund.
The main objective of the Ports 4.0 Fund is to actively promote and incorporate disruptive or incremental innovation as an element of competitiveness in the port-logistics sector, both public and private.
It is expected that the first call to access this Fund will be published shortly.
The call is for:
- Ideas
- Projects in pre-commercial phase
- Projects in commercial phase
The budget for this first call will be €12M and distributed as follows:
- For Ideas: €500,000, of which €75,000 will be dedicated to intrapreneurship (ideas generated by employees of the Port Authorities and State Ports).
- For Projects in pre-commercial phase: €7,500,000
- For Projects in commercial phase: €4,000,000
José Llorca, Head of the State Ports Innovation Area, during his speech on the Ports 4.0 Fund
The expected results of this Fund are:
- Encourage the creation or consolidation of a network of emerging companies (startups), spinoff, or new business lines in existing companies which develop innovative products, services or processes for the port-logistics sector with a market orientation, mainly (but not exclusively) B2B projects.
- Place innovative products, services and processes at the service of the Port Community, promoting the development of prototypes, pilots and the practical application of innovation strategies.
- Promote adaptation and facilitate the transition from the logistics-port sector to the 4.0 economy (PORTS 4.0), with active participation of the logistics-port community.
In this link you have at your disposal the pdf of the presentation made, with more details about this Fund.
You can also check the information related to the Ports 4.0 Fund on their website:
Studies and Innovation Department
14th October 2019
