Blue Cluster at Antwerp Maritime Week
Smart Port Week (11-12 June)
Smart Port Week builds a bridge between suppliers of technologies and companies from the maritime, logistics and industrial sectors. During this event, The Beacon, together with various other organisations, highlighted the importance of digitisation for innovative ports.
The programme included compelling site visits, interesting demonstrations and fascinating keynote speakers. The kick-off of our DDSHIP project (which stands for Data Driven Smart Shipping) also took place during Smart Port week.
DDSHIP focuses on data-driven and autonomous shipping with the aim of controlling ships more accurately and reliably. During the kick-off, participants gained insight into the objectives and ambitions of the project.
The partners also entered into dialogue with the public to gain a better understanding of relevant challenges. Topics discussed included sensor technology, intelligent data collection and the timeline the sector is proposing for autonomous sailing.
Plug and Play Maritime EXPO (13 June)
During Plug and Play Maritime EXPO, visitors were able to get to know various maritime companies during the Tech Fair. Blue Cluster was also present at this fair as an exhibitor.
Additionally, you could listen to pitches on various topics linked to the maritime sector. The main focus was on innovation and the added value of collaboration.
Some figures from this event:
- 400 attendees
- 37 exhibitors
- 16 speakers
In front of the entrance, you could also find a full-size blue whale. The Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association thus wanted to draw attention to the importance of these animals for our climate.
Blue Innovation Awards (13 June)
The Blue Innovation Awards are an initiative by Blue Cluster to bring promising projects, products and services in the blue economy to the attention of the general public.
The winners of the Blue Innovation Awards 2024 were announced this year during Antwerp Maritime Week. We would like to briefly introduce them to you:
- Blue Innovation Wave: ZULU MASS by Zulu Associates
- Corporate Blue Innovation Wave: MycoFence by Citribel
- Blue Innovation Swell: Nature Inclusive Design of the Princess Elisabeth Island by Elia Group
During the awards ceremony, the public could also vote for their favorite for the Inspirational Blue Wave (audience award). The winner in this category was once again MycoFence by Citribel.
Would you like to know more about the Blue Innovation Awards 2024? Read a more extensive report on our website or check out a wide selection of pictures.
Background
Antwerp Maritime Week is a three-day event that brings together companies and other actors in the maritime sector to explore breakthrough technologies, provide valuable insights and forge valuable relationships.
The event is an initiative of The Beacon, Plug and Play Maritime, Maritime Campus Antwerp and Blue Cluster.
