Ashdod Port (Israel) and Valenciaport (Spain) have each started an acceleration program. Ashdod Port Accelerator by 500 Global is a program that will accelerate up to 14 startups with solutions in the maritime, energy, seaport operations, cyber security and other areas. Startups can apply for this opportunity to test their projects and collaborate with the port until mid-February. Valenciaport’s Opentop innovation hub has started its first acceleration program with four startups that will solve challenges in the port logistics sector. Over the next six months, the startups will have access to the cluster of companies in Valenciaport.

The French state will provide a financial support to help reduce CO2 emissions in the industrial basins of Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer. These are the two areas with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in France. The projects DKarbonation and Syrius, situated in Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer respectively, are complex. Some steps that are envisaged include replacing fossil fuels with decarbonized hydrogen, capturing CO2 emitted by industrial activities and sequestering or transforming it, and ask manufacturers and other emitters also green their processes. It is important to include local actors so that the entire industrial ecosystem can profit from the decarbonization projects. 

The port and cities of Cartagena and El Quisco (Chile) are discussing the outer port. The partners are keen to support an environmentally-friendly, efficient project that will generate benefits for all. The cooperation is also aimed at the wider province, which stands to gain from the port development. A joint working plan is gradually being put in place by the authorities involved. The goal is to share a long term vision for the next 50 to 100 years, involving citizens as part of a shared approach.

The Port Authority of Algeciras (APBA – Spain) has officially joined the TIDE (Atlantic Network for Developing Historical Maritime Tourism) EU Project to valorize maritime heritage and underwater archaeology in the region, generating new tourism models. The participation of the APBA in the project is connected to the future Port Center, since it will include one section developed in cooperation with the University of Cadiz providing solutions to experience the underwater cultural heritage of the Bay of Algeciras. The solutions that can be implemented in the Port Center will include among others virtual reality games, designed for educational purposes, live transmission of the research and excavation process of the underwater sites, and 360º videos with which any visitor to the Port Center can learn and “dive” on one of the Bay’s underwater sites.