EU-CONEXUS has engaged in a partnership with the international port technology hackathon Portathon 2024. Empowering collaboration between science, maritime businesses and port authorities, and fostering an innovation ecosystem, Portathon offers new opportunities to apply a scientific approach towards smart urban coastal sustainability.

All EU-CONEXUS students and academic communities are invited to get involved in a 48-hour hackathon on 27-29 September in Klaipėda (Lithuania) or via an online platform. During an inspiring weekend, teams will develop innovative technological and digital solutions tackling sustainable ports, port cities and ecosystems, the maritime industry, logistics and energy challenges.

“Last year, our experience at Portathon was emotionally charged, thanks to the enthusiastic foreign students who shared their joy with us. We are delighted to share these feelings and values and hope to inspire any student to participate in this contest. Our young UTCB team presented innovative ideas for the challenges posed, and as a mentor, I had an outstanding experience offering guidance to all the participating teams. The contest was a wonderful opportunity for the team to surpass its limits in difficult situations, and we eagerly look forward to participating again this year, aiming for the prizes,” said PhD Ramona-Oana Flangea of the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest.

Initiated in Lithuania by the Klaipėda Science and Technology Park in collaboration with the Lithuanian Maritime Cluster and long-term partners, Portathon offers a unique space to establish cooperation with members the of European ports’ ecosystem, set up a base for the young talents‘ future careers. Furthermore, the most successful teams after previous Portathons were invited by port companies to finalise their ideas, create prototypes, or join the companies.

Participants are guided by an international team of mentors, joined each year by over 20 experts in a wide range of fields. One of them is Associate Professor Audrius Senulis, the Head of the Engineering Department at the Faculty of Marine Technologies and Natural Sciences of Klaipėda University, researcher at the Marine Research Institute of KU, who has mentored at every single Portathon.

“In the beginning, the hackathon was more about industry solutions but, through the years, it transformed and is now dedicated to creating solutions for port challenges. Also, it has evolved from a local event to an international one, attracting participants from all over the world. The global pandemic also had an impact – Portathon became a hybrid event, as more participants from abroad had a chance to get involved online. Though in my opinion, the true Portathon spirit emerges in the live event, when you see other teams, generate ideas, make contacts, sleep, eat, meet new friends, and propose the solutions,” Assoc. Prof. Senulis shared his extensive experience at numerous Portathons.

He added, that the topics also expanded, starting from more technical, and as the world and technologies constantly evolve, the challenges strive towards IT solutions, cybersecurity, and AI applications.

Every year, Portathon attracts around 100 innovators from the Baltic Sea countries, other European countries and even other continents. The organisers encourage both teams and individuals to register. According to them, the most successful teams are those formed of representatives with backgrounds in different sectors.

This year, Portathon is co-funded by the international Blue Supply Chains project and will seek to respond to the challenges of creating and developing sustainable supply chains in the Baltic Sea Region.

REGISTRATION 

Participants & teams: https://bit.ly/Portathon2024Participants

Mentors: https://bit.ly/Portathon2024Mentors

Co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, the Blue Supply Chains project is helping to drive the transition towards a green and resilient Baltic Sea Region.

International port technology hackathon PORTATHON is coming – on 27-29 September Klaipėda once again will become the birthplace of innovative technological and digital solutions for ports. Experts in digitalisation, cybersecurity, logistics, port technology, university communities and start-ups are invited to join – participate, mentor and submit challenges.

Meet-up of experts and young talents

Spreading the sails towards port innovations, Portathon is initiated by the Klaipėda Science and Technology Park in collaboration with the Lithuanian Maritime Cluster and long-term partners. This year, participants will generate solutions for the challenges of sustainable ports, port cities and ecosystems, the maritime industry, logistics and energy.

“We invite young talents, scientists and business experts from various fields to “dock” in Klaipėda, share their knowledge and experience, and embark on a mission of creating modern ports. For start-ups, this hackathon is a great opportunity to meet potential clients and establish contacts with maritime businesses”, says Erika Zavackienė, Project Manager of Klaipėda Science and Technology Park and coordinator of the hackathon.

Every year, Portathon attracts around 100 innovators from the Baltic Sea countries, other European countries and even other continents. The organisers encourage both teams and individuals to register. According to them, the most successful teams are those formed of representatives with background in different sectors.

Starting point for marine start-ups

Members of the port ecosystem and scientific institutions are welcome to submit challenges, which will be solved during a 48-hour hackathon. Participants will be mentored and guided by an international team of mentors, joined each year by over 20 experts in a wide range of fields.

“For the cluster, the value of this hackathon lies in discovering young talents, establishing cooperation with scientists, nurturing a new generation of professionals, and fostering the creation of start-ups which develop modern solutions for ports,” says Andrius Sutnikas, Coordinator of the Lithuanian Maritime Cluster.

Previously, the most successful teams were invited by port companies to further develop their ideas, create prototypes, and join their teams.

This year, Portathon is co-funded by the international Blue Supply Chains project and will seek to respond to the challenges of creating and developing sustainable supply chains in the Baltic Sea Region.

REGISTRATION 

Participants & teams: https://bit.ly/Portathon2024Participants

Mentors: https://bit.ly/Portathon2024Mentors

Challenges: https://bit.ly/Portathon2024Challenges

Co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, the Blue Supply Chains project is helping to drive the transition towards a green and resilient Baltic Sea Region.

‘In representing a city that develops maritime industry and has an ambitious ‘blue breakthrough’ strategy, we find opportunities to implement innovations at the port, thus ensuring even greater competitiveness, to be highly important. The theme of the hackathon will create an opportunity to take a very broad perspective of the transport sector, because a port is not just ships but also railways and road transport. The entire sector is being rapidly transformed by automation and digitalisation, which in turn bring both challenges and new opportunities. Of course, the greatest return will be enjoyed by those who will not simply watch these processes, but also be active developers and enablers of the new solutions,’ said Andrius Sutnikas, Development Manager at Klaipėda Science and Technology Park (KSTP).

The event, which will take place in Klaipėda for the first time, is organised by the KSTP, with the support of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, Lithuanian LNG cluster companies, and partners from Poland – the Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area organisation.

The hackathon will take place within the Smart-up BSR project framework. The purpose of this project is to help the countries in the Baltic Sea region to solve issues encountered during the implementation of regional scientific research and innovation policy, sharing the good practice of EU smart specialisation experts, as well as jointly developing concepts for the implementation of smart specialisation. One of the target areas of this project is the idea of a smart city.

The Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology has already included the Portathon Baltic 2019 hackathon into this year’s Innovation Week event calendar.

Prizes and valuable contacts
The format of the hackathon − a marathon of generating ideas and prototypes – has already been tested by IT experts at the KSTP. Last year, the Park organised the 48-hour Industry 4.0 hackathon, during which participants generated innovative solutions for use in the industry. Several foreign students had joined the event as well. Portathon Baltic 2019 will focus on internationality in particular, aiming to expand not only the geography but also the outlook of the participants, encouraging the search for valuable partnerships and providing better opportunities to test various ideas.

The teams offering the most interesting solutions will be awarded valuable prizes. ‘It is also important to note that the results of the hackathon will be instantly noticed by potential investors – companies operating at the port and in this region. The direction of the hackathon and the deliberately-chosen location for this event create the perfect environment for a good idea to become a tangible product or improved service, because, in addition to potential investors, we have and can use the strong scientific base of Klaipėda University,’ noted A. Sutnikas.

Teams can now register
Participation at the event is free of charge and registration has already begun. Companies are encouraged to delegate their representatives, individual startups, experts, engineering and IT students, can also form their own teams to reach a common goal.

At the Klaipėda Science and Technology Park, participants will be provided with everything they need to dive right into the challenges, for as long as it takes, without counting the hours – even all night long if necessary. If needed, teams will be able to complete some of their tasks at the Business Incubator’s 3D modelling base; there they will be provided with AutoCAD and SolidWorks software, as well as a 3D printer.