Place-to-beforinnovation
The port of Rotterdam and its partners focus heavily on innovation, on optimising the innovative ecosystem and attracting innovative start-ups. The steps made in this area are beginning to bear fruit. The port of Rotterdam is emerging as the place-to-be for innovation, which is further highlighted by the How To Get There Summit (link is external), which is being held in Rotterdam this week.
Within the region, the number of facilities to provide innovative entrepreneurs with further help is increasing considerably. RDM Rotterdam, with its Innovation Dock and the Centre of Expertise, already existed, but a large number of innovative hotspots have been added in the past year.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and Yes!Delft have launched the Port Innovation Lab (link is external), which particularly attracts and facilitates start-ups for the port and organises events to stress the importance and the opportunities for start-ups. 2015 also saw the official start of Smartport, a collaboration between TUDelft, Erasmus University, the Port of Rotterdam Authority,Deltalinqsand the Municipality of Rotterdam, which focuses on scientific research.
The Cambridge Innovation Center (link is external), known, among other things, as the place where Google Android was developed, will be opening its first branch outside America in 2016, in, you guessed it, Rotterdam. And this month, the Port Authority, in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Boskalis, Vopak, Van Oord, Damen, Heineken and others, launched PortXL (link is external).
PortXL is an international innovation accelerator programme lasting a hundred days, within which ten selected start-ups will be coached intensively by mentors to get their start-up off the ground. Plenty of possibilities for pilots But great strides are being made not only when it comes to creating an innovation ecosystem.
On Maasvlakte 2, two innovative start-ups geared towards foundations for offshore wind turbines have been given the opportunity to test their innovations in practice.
Fistuca (link is external) is conducting a pilot with its Blue Piling Hammer, a highly promising innovation which makes it possible to drive foundations into the seabed more quietly and cheaply by means of columns of falling water.
Vizionz (link is external) focuses on improving the dynamic qualities of offshore wind foundations.In addition, a pilot project is under way involving a consortium of 27 port-related businesses, whereby the possibilities of 3D printing ship’s components such as propellers, retaining rings and liquid conductors are tested.
Dynamic information about water levelsLast year, the Port of Rotterdam Authority itself also started to develop innovation projects in consultation with clients. One of the projects is already at a well-advanced stage.
Shortly, Dynar will provide dynamic up-to-date information about water levels, making information on the depth of port access more accurate. As a result, ships will shortly be able to achieve an even higher load factor.
In conjunction with start-up MgAubel, the Port Authority is also researching the use of composites as repair mortar for quay walls. Composites is a new generation of high-grade concrete substitute developed by MgAubel. It hardens quickly, is sustainable and environmentally friendly.
International frontrunner By 2030, the port of Rotterdam aims to be international frontrunner when it comes to the development and application of innovations which contribute to sustainable and efficient (production) chains and the safety and accessibility of the port complex.
The recent developments mean that we are well on our way to achieving this. Read more about promising innovations and innovative developments under Smartest Port.
Source: Port of Rotterdam Authority