Grant Map EU

“Distribution of digital technologies for transport – Blockchain and IoT – in South Baltic ports and their service portfolios is very limited, not shared and not integrated on the cross-border level. The Seed Money knowledge base allows us to conclude very differing level and meaning of digitalisation in ports. Whereas, e.g. ports of Wismar, Karlskrona and Klaipeda clearly highlights the need to act now in order to increase or sustain competitiveness, Polish ports are lagging behind extremely. They still pursue the classical infrastructural path without any clear vision and digitalisation strategy. The uneven smart future transport development is thus bound to occur. Connect2SmallPorts targets real-life existing and not artificial problems of Blue Growth. The project aims at improving IT and infrastructural capacity of small ports in the SB region. We identify small ports as small or medium-sized ports that a) build up the so-called comprehensive TEN-T Network of the EU Transportation System and / or b) do not belong to this network. Minimum 15 ports are gathered to the project in order to improve their cargo flows, environmental and economic efficiency by June 2021. The improved quality and sustainability of transport services offered by small ports is achieved through innovative and environmentally sustainable transport solutions: 1) Digital Auditing Tool to evaluate and improve port’s performance in digitalisation and cargo transport services; 2) Blockchain and IoT Strategy for small port and terminal applications leading to higher transport performance efficiency and environmental sustainability; 3) 5 pilots implemented in 5 SB ports for integration and valorisation of Blockchain and IoT strategies; and 4) Digitalisation-driven sustainable value creation models for small ports: future digitalisation and benchmarking index; Blockchain and IoT strategies for SB ports integrated in education and training curricula; yearly Digital Forum Small Ports with Award.