Description

AspBAN is an EU-funded project that aims to develop a dynamic acceleration platform, helping EU Atlantic ports to work as blue economy hubs. They are now hosting an Open Innovation Program with the goal of facilitating and establishing collaboration between start-ups and ports. This will be implemented through different pilot projects that will result of their current open call for challenges!

Apply here by 8 August 2022.

AspBAN’s Open Innovation program:

The Open innovation program of AspBAN has the main purpose of developing the whole Blue Economy ecosystem around the port centered blue innovation hubs by facilitating and establishing the collaboration between Startups and Ports through concrete pilot projects increasing the chances of implementing their sustainable product/solution.

Challenges

• Green Ports: We are looking for solutions that will enhance air quality control, carbon emissions and noise reduction
• Clean Energy sources for Ports: We are looking for solutions that drive ports’ decarbonization by bringing clean energy sources for ports
• Port facilities for Off-shore energy: We are looking for solutions and new business in the sector of renewable energies
• Waste management & Circular Economy: We are looking for solutions tackling the waste management in the ports contributing to the circularity of waste resources
• Ports as catalysers of Natural Capital Value & Restoration: We are looking for solutions that will contribute to conservation and restoration of the natural capital around the ports ecosystem
• Port infrastructures: We are looking for solutions that support port operation and improve the port infrastructures
• New Business derived from Living Marine Resources (Aquaculture and Fisheries): We are looking for solutions that can be applied in the emerging sectors in the blue bio-economy and bio-technology, aquaculture and fisheries
• Traffic management, Freights and Logistics: We are looking for solutions that will increase the Ports’ capacity to deal with Traffic, management, freights and logistics
• Smart Ports and Industry Digital Transformation: We are looking for solutions that will enable Ports’ Digital Transformation in order to become smarter, data-driven and interoperable
• Sustainable Shipping Industry and Maritime Transportation: We are looking for solutions towards the decarbonization and sustainability of the shipping industry and Maritime Transportation

What’s in it for you?

• Chance to connect and have access to 142 Strategic partners across the Atlantic Ports
• Fast forward business bootcamp opportunities with relevant partners.
• Opportunity to scale and test the product using real data in a live environment.
• Networking and partnerships with startups selected for the Bootcamp.
• Feedback and mentorship from experts on the Blue Economy sector.

Who can apply?

• Businesses that have at least a pilot ready solution
• Startups, SMEs, Innovation and Research centers, and Entrepreneurs from all over the world

Pilot Partners

Ports are one of the main interfaces with the ocean, which means they will play a strategic role as launch pads for a new generation of blue companies. By becoming the main innovation playground for the development and implementation of new blue businesses, the EU’s Atlantic ports have the opportunity to diversify their revenue sources and contribute to a more sustainable ocean economy, therefore we gathered the needs, challenges and priorities out of 143 Strategic partners across the Atlantic ports that represent entities such as: Ports; Port authorities; and Corporates operating in the ports in industries such as oil & gas, fisheries, shipping, logistics, waste management, environmental services, etc.

Timeline

Applications can be submitted here by 8 August 2022.

About AspBAN:

The ‘Atlantic Smart Ports Blue Acceleration Network’ (AspBAN) is a 2-year project co-financed by the European Commission’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund that responds to the objectives of the Atlantic Action Plan 2.0 (AAP 2.0) of the Atlantic Strategy Committee (ASC).

AspBAN is mainly focused on developing a dynamic acceleration platform, helping EU Atlantic ports to work as blue economy hubs through the Acceleration Services already launched last year (Open call is closed) and also this Open Innovation program.

To know more about AspBAN and its Challenges, please visit their official project website.