About this event
INTRODUCTION
The Beacon is a community of 100 digital technology companies. Established by committed institutions such as Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Imec and the City of Antwerp, The Beacon’s mission is to foster collaboration and facilitate digital innovation in cities, ports and industries. The Beacon is a non-for-profit organization that provides three services: (1) connecting its members, (2) organizing events and activities, (3) managing an office building in which 40 members have a working place.
SMART PORT WEEK (29/05/23 – 02/06/23)
During The Smart Port Week (SPW), The Beacon hosts and organizes a series of events and activities, focused on the topic of smart ports. The objective is to physically gather technology companies, academia, public authorities and companies active in the port, maritime and logistics industry. The Beacon always tries to provide new and cutting-edge content, in diverse concepts such as seminars, ideation sessions and site visits.
In the 2023 edition, The Beacon would like to invite a delegation of port authorities, private companies, and business representatives from the Nordic port and maritime industry. The objective is to bring these eminent stakeholders in touch with all relevant players in the Flemish port and maritime industry, and hence to foster collaboration.
PROGRAM
Wednesday 31/5 (Antwerp)
- 15.30 – 17.00: Roundtable with The Beacon Community Members, visiting ports of the Chainport consortium (Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Busan…) and the Nordics delegation.
- 17.00 – 20.00: Information session and matchmaking lunch between Flemish port, logistics and maritime companies, academics and digital technology companies, on the use of artificial intelligence in smart ports (COOCK Smart Port 2025 R&D program ; Physical Internet Living Lab R&D program)
- All Day: Possibility for B2B meetings with The Beacon Community Members.
Thursday 1/6 (Antwerp & Ostend)
- 9.00 – 10.00: Presentation of the regulatory framework & strategy for autonomous shipping in inland waters, Government of Flanders
- 10.00 – 11.30: Travel to Ostend by bus
- 11.30 – 12.30: Visit to the Maritime/Hydraulics Laboratory in Ostend, and its Towing Tank + explanation of R&D on autonomous shipping
- 12.30 – 14.00: Lunch at BlueGate Ostend and visit of Skills Lab training centre (new training institute for digital skills, data, offshore operations, AR/VR/XR…)
- 14.00 – 16.00: Demonstration of remotely piloted inland vessels (Seafar) and autonomous shipping (Mahi)
Friday 2/6 (Antwerp)
- Presentation of the innovation strategy of Port of Antwerp-Bruges
- Presentation of the newest Innovation Challenge of Port of Antwerp-Bruges (a specific challenge to which companies can submit technology solutions)
- Boat tour in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and explanation of its activities and operations.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
This program will be hosted and managed by The Beacon, with support from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). Participation in this program is possible on an invite-only basis, and will be limited to port, maritime and logistics companies and organizations from Northern Europe that have an interest in learning about the Flemish ecosystem, and collaborating with its stakeholders.
The program will be free for the foreign delegation. Transportation to Oostende and lunches are complimentary. All other transport and accommodation costs need to be taken care of by the participants.
Interested participants can reserve a ticket via this page. Upon reservation, The Beacon will get in touch with each interested participant, to discuss the modalities and finalize the registration.
