Summary
Purpose of the Contest
The Innovation Awards “Algeciras BrainPort” to the best Master’s Thesis (TFM), sponsored by the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (hereinafter, APBA) and the Technological Campus Foundation of Algeciras (hereinafter, FCTA), aim to recognize the talent and contribution to the port of innovative initiatives, carried out by university students and researchers, and which deal with the different aspects related to the business activity of the Port of Algeciras Bay.
Innovation forms part of the DNA of the APBA, where it is actively working to systematise innovation and create an innovative culture with the aim of consolidating an innovation ecosystem of international reference around the Port of Algeciras Bay. Therefore, the APBA and the FCTA want to give recognition to those innovative changes of process, product, service or even the development of new business models that can improve the competitive advantage of our port.
Project’s alignment
The theme of the proposals for this first edition had to be related to the logistic-port and maritime activity that takes place in the Port of Algeciras Bay and be aligned with one of the innovation focuses defined by the APBA in its strategy:
- 1. Port operations and logistics’ integration
- 2. Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
- 3. Resilience, safety and port protection
As a source of complementary information for the development of the work, participants were able to use, among others, the open data sets that APBA makes available to the general public through its innovation portal (https://innovacion.apba.es/abp-lab-centre/portal-de-datos/). In addition, in the case of not having a predetermined theme or preference, the organisation provided a series of innovation challenges that could help guide students and researchers in carrying out their work. These were:
- Improving the passenger and carrier experience at the Port of Algeciras.
- New business models based on data analysis, the use of connected devices (IoT) and collaborative platforms to achieve operational excellence.
- The progressive decarbonisation of the Port of Algeciras and the reduction of the environmental impact in the port-city environment.
Project’s assessment
The works were evaluated by a Jury constituted annually for this purpose and made up of seven (7) members belonging to the University of Cadiz (UCA), FCTA and APBA.
Specifically, the following criteria were analysed:
- Strategic fit and importance of the theme and solution developed in the work in relation to the innovation strategy and the current challenges of the Port of Algeciras Bay (20%).
- Impact of the innovative solution on the competitive advantage or image/reputation of the Port of Algeciras Bay, at a socio-economic level (25%).
- Degree of maturity and novelty of the innovative solution or proposal (20%).
- Technical/technological feasibility of the solution in terms of its development, implementation and technical compatibility or compatibility with the business model in the Port of Algeciras Bay (25%).
- Clarity, precision, structure and capacity for synthesis of the documents submitted (10%).
The award-winners
The Jury decreed as winner of this second edition, Mr. Guillermo Ripalda Andrades, from the ETS of Algeciras of the University of Cadiz (UCA), for his master’s thesis “Study for the update of the instructions that regulate the RO-RO operation of the Príncipe Felipe dock through discrete event simulation”, focused on the application of a specific numerical model for the analysis and improvement of times in the unloading of cargo units in the Príncipe Felipe dock. This model makes it possible to generate alternative scenarios of infrastructures, facilities, waiting times, or loading of vessels, with the aim of identifying deficiencies and critical points, as well as the most unfavourable action scenarios, so that the Port Authority can make technically justified decisions on the optimal actions to solve or minimise the existing problem.
This received from Ms. Eva Pajares Ruiz, Subdelegada del Gobierno de la Junta de Andalucía en el Campo de Gibraltar and Mr. José Luis Hormaechea Escós, General Director of the APBA, an economic endowment of 1.200€ and the possibility to carry out a paid internship for 6 months in the APBA, respectively.
Diplomas were also awarded to the other three finalists:
- Cristina Herranz Pérez, from the School of Civil Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), for her work “Feasibility study of the refurbishment and expansion of the South Quay of the Port of Valencia”.
- Arnaldo Bueso Portillo, from the Polytechnic School of Algeciras (UCA), for his work “RO-PAX traffic in the Port of Algeciras with opportunities for the implementation of the Physical Internet”.
- Ignacio González de la Peña, from the Higher Polytechnic School of Algeciras (UCA), for his work “Physical Internet (PI) in the environment of the Port of Algeciras Bay: The importance of the Port Community System (PCS) as a port information system”.
