Direct action as follow up to IAPH-World Bank recommendations to innovate and attract new talent to the port industry
IAPH expert members from the Innovation Group have been very busy over the summer months, with their ports already having successfully committed investments in people and resources when it comes to innovation. Their contributions, which are now published with the IAPH factsheet guide “The mindset shift towards innovation”, highlight their pioneering efforts to integrate innovation into their port businesses.
The publication, which is just 20 pages in length, offers 10 recommendations in the executive summary to all port leadership teams on how to integrate innovation in practice. There are further details on the “how” in the following sequential, two-page chapters, with a specific case example in each about how one port in particular succeeded in its quest.
Gadi Benmoshe, who led the team of authors as Chair of the Innovation Group commented : “we have designed this short, non-technical guide which explains the positive role innovation can play in organizations, with practical examples from ports who have already commenced their own innovation journeys.”
This follows the recommendations cited in the IAPH-World Bank #CloseTheGaps report on global port infrastructure, which cites “advanced ports are also establishing innovation hubs and incubators, supporting proof of concepts and pilots that resolve their pain points and are in some cases assisting start-ups to grow in association with venture capital partners. This indirect approach also attracts new talent to the industry.”
Pascal Ollivier, who oversees the innovation activities as Chair of the IAPH Data Collaboration Committee added : “Raising awareness, avoiding misconceptions, standardizing and promoting best practices as to how port communities can apply emerging technologies has been part of our original industry call to action to digitalize back in June 2020 during the pandemic. Succeeding in putting a smart idea into practice not only accelerates digitalization. More importantly, it can shift port executives’ mindsets towards innovation. This is the theme of the whitepaper Gadi and his Innovation Group team members have put together, as a first step in a series of actions to support innovation in ports.”
The expert team is now showcasing this white paper’s content to the wider ports community, such as at the recent Valencia Digital Summit as well as the upcoming Smart Port - Piers of the future event in Barcelona. Innovation is a key theme also being discussed online between the IAPH membership using the innovative new format for exchanging news ideas : the IAPH Harbor Café.
IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven concludes : “Innovation crosses the boundaries of all our three core IAPH themes of climate and energy, data collaboration and risk and resilience. It is the key to business improvement. As this white paper explains, innovation is not just about technology. A lot of it is about thinking differently.”
To download your copy of the “The mindset shift towards innovation”, click here
For an easy-to-use page turner version, use this click-through link
About IAPH
Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 166 port authorities, including many of the world’s largest port operators as well as 130 port-related businesses. Comprised of 87 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle approximately one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. With its NGO consultative status recognized by the IMO, ECOSOC, ILO, UNCTAD, UNEP, and WCO, IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonization and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalization in the maritime transport chain. Its World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses.
Contact for release :
Victor Shieh, Communications Director - IAPH : victor.shieh@iaphworldports.org