100 innovative pilot projects will be initiated at the Port of Rotterdam to help make it smarter, cleaner and more sustainable.
Port and maritime accelerator PortXL will be launching innovation programme MATCH to get the projects off the ground over the course of the next year. This will be carried out in partnership with the local private sector, bringing existing businesses and start-ups together. Participation in the programme is free.
“Over the course of 2021, working in partnership with the port’s business community, PortXL aims to launch 100 innovative pilot projects within the MATCH innovation programme. Companies can submit their specific market challenges to PORTXL, which will then go in search of potential solutions and bring the companies in touch with one or more members of their global innovation network,” said the Port of Rotterdam.
The port noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many innovation projects to be put on hold or cancelled. This has “dealt a serious blow” to a lot of new entrepreneurs, as well as established businesses in Rotterdam’s port area.
Actively bringing the port’s private sector in touch with innovative start-ups will enable it to test and implement new technologies, sophisticated automation solutions and other new applications.
Launched in 2015, PortXL help entrepreneurs in the port area bring new innovations to market. It has a worldwide network of over 4,000 innovative entrepreneurs.
