Guillermo Ripalda Andrades, student at the Higher Polytechnic School of Algeciras of the University of Cádiz received the second Algeciras Brainport Port Innovation Award for Best Final Master’s Project in March 2021, during a ceremony held in the conference hall of the Algeciras Technological Campus’ R&D&I Building and streamed online for remote attendees.
This international competition, sponsored by the Algeciras Bay Port Authority (APBA) and the Algeciras Technological Campus Foundation (FCTA), seeks to encourage and incentivise applied research and innovation related to port-logistics and maritime activity developed around the Port of Algeciras Bay and to continue recognising the talent of university students and young researchers.
The award ceremony featured the virtual presence of the Chairwoman of the Foundation and Director General for Research and Knowledge Transfer of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Teresa Serrano, and was attended by the Government Subdelegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Campo de Gibraltar, Eva Pajares Ruiz, the General Director of APBA, José Luis Hormaechea, the Vice-Rector of the Algeciras Bay Campus, María del Mar Cerbán, the Deputy Mayor and University Delegate of the Algeciras City Council, Sergio Pelayo, and the Head of the APBA Technological-Development Department, Francisco de los Santos, as well as the Director of the FCTA, Rosa Rodríguez, who presented the ceremony.
Teresa Serrano, in her first public act in this role, wished to highlight the importance of initiatives like this to promote the transfer of knowledge and the innovation of young talents in order to achieve a solid economy. To this, she added that the Foundation she chairs is a “very important instrument for dialogue between the university and the business fabric”.
Sergio Pelayo emphasised the synergies achieved between local organisms and actors, as well as the importance of the Port of Algeciras, which is “an asset for all and we must care for it”.
José Luis Hormaechea underlined that “we are looking for innovative ideas and talented people capable of generating these ideas and many more in the Journey to Innovation”, the name given to APBA’s innovation-culture and management programme whose aim is to implement an innovative culture within APBA and its Port Community.
The Vice-Rector of the Algeciras Bay Campus stated that relationships between the university and APBA began more than 20 years ago and that they have always worked hand in hand. As evidence of this, he highlighted the Master’s in Port and Logistics Management and the project for the construction of the UCA’s Innovation Centre in the Llano Amarillo, among others.
Finally, the Government Subdelegate noted the importance of this award “through which we seek to retain talent in the local area and province” and signalled that “for the Regional Government of Andalusia, it is a source of pride to have this port in constant evolution and innovation”.
After an introduction from the institutions, Ignacio Serra took the stage, as the winner of the first edition of this competition in 2018 with his project to improve the efficiency of container terminals and their automation. During his testimony, he expressed that, thanks to this award, “doors have been opened for me in the working world and I have been able to continue working in this sector”.
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