The PIONEERS General Assembly was held on the 8th and 9th November 2023, hosted by Port de Barcelona. The GA coincided with the Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, an annual event that gathers over 25,000 experts in urban innovation and mobility.

Within the umbrella of the Smart City Expo World Congress, a variety of themed events took place, such as the “Smart Ports: Piers of the Future”. Focusing on “Sailing Towards Innovation”, the event unites experts in sustainability, innovation, and port tech to shape the port of tomorrow. Eight major participated at the event, including two PIONEERS ports, Antwerp-Bruges and Barcelona.

The week started with an interactive session on the joint efforts from the ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Barcelona, Constanta and Venlo in the development of the Green Port Master Plan (GMPM). The session also featured a special guest speaker from PIONEERS sister project MAGPIE, sharing the insights from MAGPIE ports perspective. This workshop was a valuable opportunity for participants to deepen the knowledge on the strategic framework for the GPMP.

On November 8th, the first day of our General Assembly kicked off with a brief presentation on the state-of-the-art of PIONEERS project, followed by presentations from each work package leader on recent achievements. Then, partners moved to the Smart City Expo World Congress to attend panel sessions on Smart Ports. Within the framework of SCEWC2023, the Smart Ports Piers of the Future event took place, where Pieter Vandermeeren, Green Port Master Planner from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, was a speaker in the panel discussion titled “Driving Sustainable and Intelligent Maritime Transport”. This session explored innovative technologies, alternative fuels, and the role of digitalization in enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The day ended in a boat tour, allowing partners to discover the facilities of the Port de Barcelona.

The second day was marked by a series of interactive sessions designed to provide partners with an in-depth understanding of all 19 demonstrations within the PIONEERS project.

Meanwhile, PIONEERS was represented in the Smart City Expo World Congress with a dedicated booth at the Tomorrow Blue Economy Plaza in Hall 2. Visitors engaged actively with the interactive map showcasing the 19 demonstrators, which was launched on November 8th.

The time spent in Barcelona was truly remarkable, fostering connections with PIONEERS partners and enabling active participation in discussions about innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation at the annual congress.

Have a look at the photo gallery and immerse yourself in the world of #PIONEERSeuports!