Bilbao PortLab, the innovation hub of the Port of Bilbao

Bilbao PortLab, the innovation hub of the Port of Bilbao

In July 2019, the Port Authority of Bilbao launched Bilbao PortLab, its own innovation and research hub within the Bilbao Port and River Foundation. The aim of Bilbao PortLab is to develop an innovation ecosystem in the Port of Bilbao and its concessionary companies, whilst at the same time serving as a real test environment for potential business projects and innovative developments that may arise.

Closeness, transparency, responsiveness, co-creation and tenacity are the driver values of Bilbao PortLab, with a proven business model of cooperation between startups, companies of the port community and public and private organisations which leverages the contributions made by all stakeholders engaged in the project.

On the basis of this model, Bilbao PortLab has created an ecosystem in which 854 players already take active part, including companies from the port community, businesses that have contributed Innovative Solutions and a wide range of other players involved and connected in many other ways.

In its quest to develop this hashtag#InnovativeEcosystem, Bilbao PortLab also attends and is actively involved in events related to innovation and the port sector, as well as in various different public and private initiatives to match up and connect the challenges of port activity with Innovative Solutions.

In this respect, mention must be made of its involvement in the BAT B Accelerator Tower (BAT), the Bizkaia International Entrepreneurship Centre, to promote business growth, strengthen the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and, in turn, connect the world of Bizkaia with its companies, and in AspBAN (Atlantic Smart Ports Blue Acceleration Network), the flagship project of the DG MARE for the development and acceleration of Blue Innovation in Europe. 10 of the 40 startups which are candidates for acceleration through the initiative to develop pilots in various ports have been put forward by Bilbao PortLab.

In its constant search for possible Innovative Solutions to the challenges presented by port activity in aspects such as energy, digitalisation and sustainability, Bilbao PortLab supports businesses in submitting their projects for funding through the Ports 4.0, Hazitek (SPRI Group ) and GALATEA Project grants programmes, amongst others.

Bilbao PortLab also provides companies and start-ups with access to the Port of Bilbao’s Living Lab, providing a real environment in which to test their innovative proposals. More than 20 projects are currently conducting proof of concept trials and pilots in the port itself.

Source: Bilbao PortLab and IAHP

Images credit: Bilbao PortLab