By
Alex Smith |
A number of technology start-ups and entrepreneurs are to exhibit at the latest edition of Posidonia from 1-5 June in Athens, Greece, and showcase new solutions with the potential to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the shipping industry.
“Tracking of cargo at sea, crewless shipping, the digitalisation of maintenance processes and ships controlled remotely from land are just some in a long list of many radical transformational trends which the maritime industry will be asked to embrace in the not too distant future as the advent of digital technologies continues unabated,” said Theodore Vokos, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions, the organisers of Posidonia.
The new technologies will be featured at the Digital Innovation Village, the pavilion for emerging maritime start-ups at Posidonia. The pavilion, organised in cooperation with the Hellenic Association of Mobile Applications Companies (HAMAC), will host technologies related to the theme of ‘Blue innovation for sustainable growth.’ These will include internet of things sensors with embedded intelligence and computing, cybersecurity systems and software-as-a-service offerings, among many others.
“Digital transformation is the big challenge for maritime and the Blue Economy, in general,” said Yiannis Kotsis-Giannarakis, general manager of HAMAC. “The Digital Innovation Village at Posidonia 2020 will host new innovative companies that will mark the new era. The pioneers will be there.”
Another area featuring start-ups at Posidonia 2020 will be the SHIPPINGInsight New Tech Pavilion. Six new technology-driven solutions will be featured at the pavilion, which will focus specifically on maritime technologies from the US.
“Because I believe in new tech, and because I know how tough it is to break into the shipping world, I have created the SHIPPINGInsight New Tech Pavilion at Posidonia which is featuring six innovative technologies,” said Carleen Lyden Walker, SHIPPINGInsight’s chief evolution officer. “Further, on Thursday 4 June at 14:30, we will be holding a ‘Shark Tank’ involving shipowner/investor ‘sharks’ who will invest in new tech ‘chum’ after hearing their pitches. Those who are exhibiting in the SHIPPINGInsight New Tech Pavilion will automatically qualify to be in the Shark Tank, which will be co-hosted by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.”
Also taking place during Posidonia 2020 will be the ‘Emerging Maritime Start-ups in Greece’ event. Organised by Blue Growth, the event is part of an initiative to bring together emerging Greek start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises with entrepreneurs, investors and industry decision makers. The start-ups will present their technologies and services and will be able to network with potential partners and investors.
Maritime innovation hub Optima-X will also be featuring at Posidonia, collaborating with the Greek Ministry of Development and Investments and Fathom World. Optima-X will organise a workshop at the event, designed to promote the work of technology start-ups targeting the Blue Economy.