- Port Innovators Network (PIN) is an international network of port innovation hubs present on three continents, with members including Opentop, homePORT, The PIER, Cubo Maritime & Port, SmartportLab and now the 2050 National Maritime Innovation Hub at the Port of Tyne, UK.
- PIN’s goal is to drive global open innovation in the port ecosystem and supply chains.
Valencia, January 27th, 2025. – PIN welcomes the Port of Tyne’s 2050 National Maritime Innovation Hub as a new member of its global network.
Port Innovators Network (PIN) is an international network that brings together leading port innovation hubs from three continents. Its prominent members include Opentop, homePORT, The PIER, Cubo Maritime & Port, SmartportLab and now the recently joined 2050 National Maritime Innovation Hub in the UK.
Opentop, Valenciaport’s innovation hub, is a founding and active member of PIN. The objective of this international network is to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies and practices in the port ecosystem and supply chains, to boost the competitiveness of port clusters.
PIN’s newest member, the 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub, is a collaboration in the UK between partners including the Port of Tyne, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Nissan, Hitachi Europe, BT, Frazer-Nash, Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport. This collaboration drives innovative solutions to accelerate the transition to smarter ports.
Focused on major challenges such as decarbonization, the transition to clean energy and climate resilience, the 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub works to develop sustainable solutions and accelerate technological breakthroughs. Through R&D projects, open innovation programs and accelerators, it fosters collaboration between industry leaders, SMEs, researchers and government agencies.
The Hub plays a key role in automation, talent development, and supports training and digital culture initiatives to prepare the industry for the demands of the future. This approach is aligned with the UK’s maritime strategy “Maritime 2050”.
Dr. Jo North, Director of Innovation Ecosystems at the Port of Tyne:
“We are delighted to be part of this collaborative global group that shares our challenge to accelerate innovation in the port sector. At 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub at the Port of Tyne, our aim is to develop solutions that drive greener, smarter and more efficient operations. Joining the Port Innovators Network gives us a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and expertise, accelerating progress in the maritime and logistics industries.”
Michael Davie, Halifax Port Authority’s Vice President of Operations and PIN representative:
“We are pleased to welcome the Port of Tyne’s 2050 National Maritime Innovation Hub as a new member of PIN. PIN is focused on solving supply chain problems with innovative thinking. To ensure efficient and resilient supply chains, it is critical that ports, operators and innovators work together to adopt new and practical solutions that strengthen our industry.”
Opentop as a founding member of PIN, has expressed its great satisfaction with this new addition, as it reinforces one of its main objectives: to promote collaboration between startups and scaleups, both nationally and internationally, with companies in the Valencia port cluster to develop open innovation projects.
About PIN
The Port Innovators Network (PIN) is a global network of port innovation hubs that aims to drive the adoption of innovation in the global port system. It connects communities of innovation hubs such as startups, entrepreneurs, companies, researchers, universities and investors to share ideas, project results, innovation experiences, methodologies and best practices.
About Opentop
Opentop is the Valenciaport Innovation Hub. This initiative, led by Fundación Valenciaport with the support of the Port Authority of Valencia, has as its main objective to bring open innovation to companies and entities operating in the three ports managed by the APV (Valencia, Sagunto and Gandía), to enhance their competitiveness.
