The Port of Barcelona has launched PierNext, a digital knowledge hub designed to provide information on the innovative initiatives that are transforming the world of logistics, transport and ports around the world.

According to the port, PierNext is available in Catalan, Spanish and English. The hub aims to position itself as a platform for analysis and reflection on innovation, with a special focus on the port and maritime sector. It will stimulate global debate on the future of international trade, logistics and ports, and energize the innovative ecosystem which has recently been generated at the Port of Barcelona.

“Innovation & the digital revolution that is transforming our sector will be one of the axes defining the strategy of the Port of Barcelona in the years to come,” said Mercè Conesa, president of the Port of Barcelona. “Through PierNext, the Port of Barcelona aims to enrich Barcelona's innovation cluster with its specialized view of the port and logistics sector, which we consider to be full of opportunities and potentialities, mainly for start-ups and SMEs.”

The PierNext platform contains seven sections, corresponding to the logistics, mobility, economy, environment, people, governance and technology. It takes advantage of the resources offered by digital communication to present the most disruptive tendencies and experiences that are developing in the field of logistics, international trade and ports. The digital knowledge hub will be updated with weekly content presented in the form of reports, accompanied by videos, infographics and other graphical resources. It will also include contributions from international experts.

“At the Port of Barcelona we have always defended an open and collaborative innovation model,” said Carles Rúa, head of strategic projects and innovation at the Port of Barcelona. “This is shown by the initiatives we have undertaken to boost entrepreneurship and find innovative solutions to the challenges facing the sector; initiatives such as Port Innova – Barcelona Port Hackathon or the Port Challenge Barcelona. In the same vein, we want to make PierNext an open platform for all people and organizations interested in contributing and sharing ideas.”

PierNext is part of the Digital Port project launched in 2017 to promote the digitization of the port environment and which has defined 54 priority initiatives currently in varying phases of execution, according to the Port of Barcelona.