Mar 20, 2024, 12:00:00 PM
The more
than 200 workers who currently make up the staff of the Port Authority of Vigo
are firsthand aware of the challenges that the Port of Vigo must face, and
their experience enables them to contribute innovative, technological, and
inclusive solutions of value.
For this
reason, the institution presided over by Carlos Botana, aware of the internal
potential of the organization, has agreed, together with the Workers' Committee
of the institution, to launch the "APVIGO INTRAEMPRENDE" program,
which aims to recognize the work and experience of the staff and support their
entrepreneurial spirit in prototyping specific solutions to social, economic,
and environmental challenges aimed at strengthening the commitment of the Port
of Vigo to the sustainable development of its operations and its area of
influence.
This
program aligns with national initiatives driven by Ports of the State such as
the "Ports 4.0" capital fund, which aims to promote open innovation
models that support and attract talent to generate innovative and sustainable
entrepreneurial ventures in the port sector. It is ultimately about
contributing to the creation of spaces for dialogue and the creation of
innovative solutions that address port challenges from creativity, experience,
knowledge, and vocation, as a basis for generating a change towards
sustainable, inclusive, green, and competitive ports.
In this
context, the "APVIGO INTRAEMPRENDE" program is an initiative that
promotes intrapreneurship to address social, economic, and environmental
challenges in the operations of the Port of Vigo. Thus, this program hosts a
call for "sustainable entrepreneurship ideas" aimed at workers who
want to become agents of change in the blue economy, participating directly in
the development of creative and effective solutions to improve the operations
of the Port of Vigo, contributing to its sustainability in its three
dimensions: economic, environmental, and social.
What
does it involve?
The
"APVIGO INTRAEMPRENDE" Program consists of four phases: training;
entrepreneurial idea contest; entrepreneurship pre-incubator for the ideation
and prototyping of the business idea; and prototype testing at the Port of
Vigo.
Workers
interested in participating in the program must submit their application
consisting of: a brief description of the challenge they intend to solve and a
brief description of the entrepreneurial idea. The jury, composed of six people
with extensive experience and knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship and
innovation applied to the blue economy and maritime-coastal ports, will select
a total of 5 projects.
The winners
will benefit from availability of a certain number of hours per month for the
development of their business idea, access to a support program for the design
and elaboration of the prototype of the idea or solution, and the commitment to
test implementation at the APV in case the development of the prototype in the
pre-incubator ensures its viability.
The idea
contest will be launched in the coming days, and interested parties will have a
maximum of 30 days to submit their applications. The pre-incubator will last
for 6 months from the selection and publication of the winners.
• During a visit by the Port Authority’s top official, Carlos Botana, and the Regional Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ángeles Vázquez • With an investment of nearly €800,000, the Port of Vigo has implemented and planned a series of projects focused on sustainability, safety, and energy efficiency in this natural enclave • APV plans to replace the lighthouse dome and rehabilitate the adjoining building for possible use as a museum or interpretive space
The HYDEA project, which is funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area 2021-2027 programme, was set up to boost the hydrogen transition in the Atlantic Area ports. During the second year of the project, the 10 members of the consortium committed into structuring methods that will enable the development of valuable tools such as action plans for ports and a decision-making tool based on real case studies. HYDEA partners have also launched three calls to provide access to their experimental facilities and expertise to support the development and testing of pre-commercial, innovative technologies.
The Port of Vigo continues to strengthen its leadership in innovation and sustainability, with two of its projects selected as finalists for the IAPH Sustainability Awards 2025, the prestigious prizes granted by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the world’s largest port network.