Five top maritime corporations partner with tech startups to work on 13 separate projects aimed at accelerating innovation and improving the bottom line, reports The Maritime Executive.
Partnership for innovation
With the assistance of the corporate innovation company Rainmaking, five large corporations with significant presence in the maritime industry have partnered with eight promising startups.
Firms working on 13 projects
Together, these firms – Cargotec, HHLA, Inmarsat, Shell and Wärtsilä – are working on 13 separate projects aimed at accelerating innovation and improving the bottom line.
Startups for cyber-security
The match-ups were arranged by Rainmaking’s Trade and Transport Impact program, which lines up corporate partners with budding tech startups for a range of transportation-related projects – from port- and cyber-security to energy-optimization and crew welfare.
The current round of projects are related to :
- safety,
- security and
- crew welfare;
- optimization of port and
- vessel operations; and
- autonomous operations and
- equipment.
Help solving corporates problems
Nicklas Viby Fursund, a partner with Rainmaking said, “There is growing recognition that the maritime industry needs to innovate, and fast. As appetite for fresh thinking, insight, and technology swells, bringing together established maritime leaders with technology startups is what’s needed to deliver genuine business results quickly.”
Impact of startups
“It’s exciting to see the genuine impact quality tech startups with high engagement and energy levels can make, helping to solve the problems the corporates are facing and adding value to operations.”
Program with clear deadlines
Rainmaking says that the Trade and Transport Impact program includes clear deadlines, encouraging the partners to work towards delivering tangible results on shorter timetables.
Startup in seafarers safety
Smartphone app
One of the startups involved in the program, Scoutbase, uses a smartphone app to survey seafarers about safety.
Working with Shell
Scoutbase’s aim is to “capture honest data continuously rather than relying on occasional surveys, inspections or incident reports,” and it is now working with Shell to refine its product.
Reduce human error
“We have had great success working with Scoutbase, whose technology collects data to reduce human error.”
Comment from project lead for new marine ventures at Shell
Michael Andronicou, project lead for new marine ventures at Shell SAID, “Our business has been hugely engaged – everyone is really keen and loves the energy that Scoutbase has brought to the table, as well as the product itself. Going forward in 2020 we are really excited to hopefully start rolling this product out.”
Startup associated with Cargotec
Maritime technology company Cargotec is working with two startups under the program.
Tero Hottinen, director for emerging digital business at Cargotec said, “The Trade and Transport Impact program provides an excellent framework to explore collaborations with startups – not only for scouting and finding the good ones, but also to encourage impetus and progress within a certain timeframe.”
“We are working with two different companies that have truly complementary offerings to ours. We probably wouldn’t have trialled both at the same time in a synergetic manner without Rainmaking, so it really has been beneficial from that perspective.”
Startup involved with Wärtsilä
Bridge teams to save fuel
Wärtsilä is well known for investment in digital technology for energy efficiency and data-driven operations, and it is working with the startup Signol on encouraging bridge teams to save fuel.
Reach the decision makers onboard
Steffen Knodt, director of new ventures for Wärtsilä said, “Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors in shipping today, and we are trying to find new ways of improving it. Signol has enabled us to reach the decision makers onboard and better support them with fuel consumption, energy efficiency and operations.”
Launch of decarbonization program
The third cycle of the program begins in early 2020, at which point more organizations will be able to join. Rainmaking will also be launching a decarbonization program in Singapore, which specifically focuses on startups with solutions that support the transition to zero-carbon shipping.
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Source: The Maritime Executive
