The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) has supported 29 innovative initiatives presented under the IV Call of the Innovation Ports 4.0 Fund, the support instrument for innovation in the logistics-port sector managed by Port Authorities of the State. The deadline for submitting proposals ended on March 31, following an open period since December with the publication of the rules in the Official State Bulletin.
During this period, the APBA received and analyzed a total of 41 proposals from national and international companies and start-ups. After evaluating their alignment with the strategic focus and innovation objectives defined by the Port of Algeciras, the organization opted to provide support to 29 of them, distributed across 15 ideas and 14 commercial projects. The volume of proposals received confirms the interest generated by the Algeciras site among innovation ecosystem agents and its positioning as an international Port Living Lab.
The call is oriented towards two differentiated categories: proposals in the initial phase of technological development (TRL 1-2), with expected results in the form of proof of concept, and projects with an advanced level of technological maturity (TRL 7-9), focused on the commercialization and deployment of the product or service.
In the 15 supported ideas and in 7 of the selected projects, the APBA has committed to taking an active role as a facilitator of the proof of concept or pilot in case the proposals are beneficiaries of the aids. The supported initiatives are based on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, blockchain, and drones, and are oriented towards both optimizing port operations and improving environmental and energy safety and sustainability of the facility.
This fourth edition of the Ports 4.0 Fund, governed by the same ministerial order as in previous calls, has a budget allocation of 6,750,000 euros, which maintains the commitment of Port Authorities of the State to this mechanism for promoting innovation in the Spanish port system.
The APBA has maintained an active role in the three previous calls of the fund. Throughout these editions, the Port of Algeciras received and analyzed more than 130 proposals and supported, as a facilitator or through a letter of support, a total of 101 initiatives. Of that total, 17 ultimately became beneficiaries of the grants awarded by Port Authorities of the State.