Last Thursday, 26th, the Innovation Committee of the Port of Algeciras organised a new working session with the aim of reviewing the second year of activity with a view to 2026 and presenting new innovative projects “made in Algeciras”, as well as facilitating a participatory discussion on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the logistics and port sector, amongst other topics.
The meeting took place at the R&D&I Building of the Algeciras Technology Campus Foundation (FCTA), which allowed attendees to gain first-hand insight, in the words of Jesús Verdú, coordinator of the FCTA, into the role the organisation plays in the region’s economic and technological development, as well as its portfolio of services and specialised facilities.
Jesús Medina, Head of the Technology Development Department at APBA and Chair of the Committee itself, opened the event by presenting an annual review of the milestones achieved during the working group’s second year. Medina highlighted the various results achieved, the joint innovation initiatives launched and the growing level of collaboration among stakeholders in the ecosystem. He also outlined the main points of the work plan scheduled for 2026, focusing on the role the Innovation Committee will play in updating the APBA’s Innovation Strategy.
The agenda continued with the announcement of two new members: Agsa-Partida, as an Ordinary Member, and Telefónica, as an Expert Advisor. Next came the “Innovations made in Algeciras” section, during which two new high-impact projects developed within our ecosystem were presented by TTI Algeciras and Maersk Line. Firstly, Carlos Navas, IT Automation & Development Engineer at TTIA, presented the recently rolled-out digital solution for the Appointment System for lorry access to the terminal. Next, Fernando González and Ismael Rivera, Senior Engineering Manager and Senior Software Engineer at Maersk Technology respectively, outlined the in-house development of an innovative AI assistant for optimising ship-to-terminal communications. Both presentations demonstrated, once again, how digital transformation and the adoption of technology help to strengthen the competitiveness and unique value of the Port of Algeciras Port Community.
In the field of open innovation and digital entrepreneurship, an update was provided on the current status of the Port of Algeciras Digital Entrepreneurship Centre, which focuses on port logistics and is supported by the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Misión Andalucía initiative. In addition, two start-ups and another technology-based SME, a spin-off from the University of Cádiz, were presented, showcasing technologies applicable to the sector. Specifically, Víctor Manuel Díaz, Founder of SonaGrid, a start-up participating in the Misión programme; Manuel Muñoz, CEO of Surcontrol; and Oumnia Chaara, CEO of Chaara App, presented their companies and their innovative proposals. Following this, the status of the proposals mobilised by the APBA and its ecosystem was reviewed, including those backed by the Committee itself, within the framework of the 4th Call for Commercial Ideas and Projects of the Ports 4.0 Fund, promoted by Puertos del Estado.
The session concluded with the workshop ‘Artificial Intelligence applied to the logistics and port sector’, a group discussion on the strategic priorities surrounding the adoption of this technology, its challenges and barriers, the risks associated with its implementation and governance, as well as the main use cases with potential in the port industry.
To round off the event, attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception and networking session that encouraged the exchange of ideas and experiences among companies from the Port Community, start-ups, consultants and entrepreneurs, strengthening synergies and a shared commitment to collaborative innovation at the Port of Bahía de Algeciras.
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