SPEED

The Challenge

Global competitiveness is putting pressures on Western European ports to be more efficient and innovative. In large and complex port environments especially, there are numerous opportunities for efficiency gains in logisitics. Simultaneously, new advances in data science and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are enabling more efficient ways to communicate and integrate entire supply chains.

High-tech start-ups and SMEs are leading the way in these technological developments. Currently, port environments do not fully take advantage of data science/IoT technologies. Further, high-tech start-ups and SMEs often struggle with the professionalization of their technological ideas and business activities. As a result, performance of the Western European ports is not as efficient as it could be. Similarly, the full development potential of high-tech start-ups and SMEs and their subsequent economic contributions are not realised. Pressures to become more cost-effective, efficient, and innovative led to the creation of the SPEED Project.

SPEED Portal Objectives

On the SPEED Portal, hosted on a Wazoku Co-Creation Community, member organizations collaborate towards four main goals:

1. Mobilizing the port stakeholder ecosystem
2. Connecting the smart port stakeholders with a network of experts
3. Supporting development of smart port solutions
4. Building the structures for a sustained, forward-looking Smart Ports Innovation Ecosystem

By connecting challenges in ports, such as the potential automated sorting systems for shipping containers, with the start-ups and knowledge-providers who can facilitate them, Project SPEED minimizes the time between problem identification and potential solutions. This embodies Wazoku’s Challenge Driven Innovation® methodology, where breaking larger, sector-wide problems into manageable segments can facilitate faster, more efficient innovation.

At a glance

SPEED Portal helps to mobilise a network connecting 2 Seas regional data science high-tech start-ups and SMEs, data science and maritime experts and knowledge centres and port stakeholders, to support the Western European ports and port stakeholders who need data science solutions.

Project SPEED Outcomes

The ports and stakeholders involved in SPEED use this Wazoku-based community for continuous improvement, scouting, and cross-sector innovation. The initiative functions as a two-sided knowledge base and collaboration hub for both established companies/stakeholders as well as SMEs. By facilitating the introductions, project overviews, and problem-solution matching that leads to further projects, SPEED caters to both the innovation seekers and innovation providers. Port of Antwerp (Belgium), Portland Port (UK), Poole Harbour (UK), Portsmouth International Port (UK), and the Port of Moerdijk (Netherlands) have all found notable technologies, challenges, and proof-of-concept solutions within SPEED.

Some notable Smart Port Technologies shared on the platform, both software and hardware, include air quality monitors, smart camera system solutions, water quality monitoring systems, and biometric access solutions. These submitted technologies by SMEs, research institutions, and start-ups directly address named challenges on the platform around pollutants, port operations, and on-site security. This built-in link between problems and their solutions in the SPEED community supercharges the time taken and efficacy of solutions.

The future and the role of Wazoku

Project SPEED members have used the Wazoku-based community to connect their challenges with the start-ups, individuals, technologies, and developments that will help to solve them. This area helps to incubate and accelerate smart ports solutions for stakeholders: any member can collaborate and examine existing business profiles, solutions, and technologies, with the portal acting as a living library of innovation.

Learn more and visit the SPEED Smart Ports Portal, an open community platform!