Posted on July 17, 2023
Created by Cubo Itaú and sponsored by industry specialists Wilson Sons, Porto do Açu and Hidrovias do Brasil, since it was launched, the hub has provided executives with mentoring programs with startups, and business networking and knowledge development events.
In terms of results for the promotion of these technology entrepreneurs, a community survey revealed that, in 2022, the startups earned more than BRL 86 million and received financial contributions totaling over BRL 25 million. These entrepreneurs expect that, in 2023, by joining Cubo Maritime & Port, revenues will grow by more than 60% on average, compared to 2022. Regarding personnel and number of clients, the startups expect to see a 30% increase in each of these areas.
At the end of last year, Wilson Sons made a financial contribution to Argonáutica, purchasing a minority interest in the Brazilian startup that developed the innovative technology of “dynamic draft”, which optimizes ship loading and berthing at port terminals. In a collaboration with Argonáutica, Wilson Sons implemented the new operating system for its Tugboat Operation Centre (COR), in Santos (São Paulo). For higher operating efficiency, safety, and sustainability, this month, the new ArTeMIS system developed by Argonáutica has started to monitor in real-time the company’s fleet of 81 tugboats on the Brazilian coast. One of its distinctive features is the integration with external data sources to check the weather conditions at the ports, including tide, current, and wind.
Open-source innovation is a key asset role for the hub’s leading companies, as it allows them to address their business pains through strategic connections. A prime example is integrated logistics company Hidrovias do Brasil, which utilized this approach by launching ten challenges over this period, resulting in direct connections with nineteen Cubo startups. Of these, nine startups are in the maritime and port business. These projects are currently in the phase of solution design and deployment as part of the innovation process. This approach underscores the importance of open-source innovation by driving efficiency and creating opportunities to solve business challenges more broadly and comprehensively.
Some of the technologies of interest include smart crew management, asset digitization, barge tracking, using a digital tool to optimize daily procedures and processes at gatehouses, and others.
“We are pleased to share cases like this, which show us the importance of combining expert minds to propel the industry using innovation. Startups and their solutions have a lot to contribute to major companies, and the potential impact of these collaborations is immeasurable”, says Paulo Costa, CEO of Cubo Itaú.
Another relevant project was the release of “Maritime and Port Startup Scouting”, an unprecedented study conducted by Wilson Sons, supported by Cubo Maritime & Port, which found 528 startups in the maritime and port sector, some of which offer solutions directly targeting this industry, based in 45 countries on five continents. The survey has revealed that 214 ship techs (more than 40% of the total) develop solutions using Big Data & Analytics. And Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, involving 85 startups, ranks second among the top technologies, ahead of the Internet of Things (IoT), Sensors & Monitoring (83).
“We decided to release this study because we believe that consistent transformations require vigorous pursuit of innovation, new technologies, and cooperation with our stakeholders and society in general. “We are experiencing an unprecedented moment in the industry, in which new technologies will make port operations and shipping increasingly more efficient, safer, and sustainable”, says Wilson Sons Digital Transformation director Eduardo Valença, who further adds: “We need to translate this scenario into efficiency gains, by promoting the emergence, development, and proliferation of startups with impactful solutions for our industry”.
Port of Açu presented six challenges on the innovation platform, and received 24 proposals from startups, resulting in 11 connections. Of the connections and direct relationships with startups, six proofs of concept (POCs) were carried out and two are under negotiation. Some important projects have been kicked off. One of them is the study of navigability in fluid mud and dynamic draft, in collaboration with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Microars Engenharia, and the startup Argonáutica. The study includes a sectoral technical discussion on improving navigation and dredging management processes, important processes for the port industry. Moreover, the port has a digital twins project with the startup PhDsoft, mete oceanographic alert solutions with i4sea, and satellite monitoring images with Cyan. Together, these startups are working on an integrated solution for new monitoring systems for the port.
To foster innovation in the operations at the Port of Açu, and help to promote the ecosystem, last year the port developed the research, development, and innovation program Cais Açu Lab, for innovation and sustainability actions. The program is intended to transform the Port of Açu in an innovation platform by promoting efficient and resilient port, shipping, and industrial operations while boosting competitiveness and supporting local economic development in the north of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Internationalization
The program is expected to expand its operations and attract partners from other countries. It is taking up a challenge in collaboration with the project’s leading companies to go global and establish connections with innovation hubs and startups in other countries. The objective is to expand collaboration opportunities and promote the exchange of knowledge between international entrepreneurs and the Brazilian market.
As part of its global expansion strategy, Cubo Maritime & Port has set up an informal partnership with Singapore-based PIER71TM. Since 2018, PIER71TM has developed a vibrant marine tech start-up ecosystem with a strong international reputation in Singapore. Through their annual Smart Port Challenge competition, they have worked with more than 50 industry partners to develop more than 100 innovation opportunities; and have nurtured over 100 startups from diverse countries. Both partners have agreed to promote each other’s innovation competition, so as to encourage active participation from Brazilian and Singaporean marine tech start-ups. Additionally, both partners will also provide a soft-landing program to ease the entry of interested Brazilian and Singaporean marine tech startups into each other’s countries; and connect them to relevant ecosystem partners.
Enterprise Singapore, an agency under the Ministry of Trade & Industry of Singapore, responsible for promoting internationalization and overseas expansion, will coordinate the scouting of startups for these challenges and assist the startups’ ease into the Brazilian market. Other planned initiatives include organizing B2B matching and networking opportunities, ideation, and knowledge sharing between entrepreneurs from both countries.
By establishing collaborative arrangements with international hubs and startups, the reach is expanded globally, and it strengthens the hub’s position as a reference center for innovation. Through the initiative, the plan is to boost the growth and internationalization of startups and think up new ideas and solutions to meet market demands.
Future
Following the movement of other sectors, Cubo Maritime & Port should launch a project aimed at developing ESG startups. One of the hot topics should be decarbonization. And other solutions will be discussed for the integration of ship techs, remote or autonomous operations of ships, and port equipment, in addition to collaboration and data sharing.
For the future, the expectation is to expand interactions and projects with startups and establish partnerships with regulatory authorities to boost technology breakthroughs in highly regulated environments. Another point of interest is strengthening collaborations with academic centers to attract more specialists and startups.
