News & Media

11th September 2024

MARITIME INNOVATION WEEK TO RETURN FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

After it’s previous success, Maritime Innovation Week is returning for its third year, uniting industry leaders, investors, start-ups, and policy experts to drive sustainable innovation in the maritime sector, with events at London’s BT Tower and the 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub at the Port of Tyne.

Maritime Innovation Week is returning for the third consecutive year, set to bring together industry thought leaders, green investors, innovative start-ups, researchers, and policy experts to accelerate innovation in the maritime sector. Scheduled for 19th – 21st November 2024, the event will kick off at the iconic BT Tower in London before moving to our 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub at the Port of Tyne.

Key partners for this year include the Department for Transport, the British Ports Association, BT, Connected Places Catapult, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, and the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA). The event will feature panels, roundtables, and keynote speeches, focusing on the theme: "Accelerate and Amplify: Making Innovation Happen."

Day 1: Maritime Futures and Horizon Scanning (19 November, BT Tower, London)

On the first day, we’ll explore future trends and emerging technologies shaping the maritime industry, with discussions on green shipping, decarbonising ports and supply chains, and technological advancements. Real-life case studies will highlight sustainable maritime innovation and strategies for leading sector-wide change.

Day 2: Maritime Innovation into Action (20 November, BT Tower, London)

The second day will focus on scaling and speeding up maritime innovation. Topics will include funding for spin-outs and SMEs, commercialising solutions, transdisciplinary research, and building innovation ecosystems. Key partners such as the London Stock Exchange, Scale-Up Britain, and the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub will help us explore how we can turn ideas into impactful, real-world applications.

Day 3: Innovation for People and Place-making (21 November, 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub, Port of Tyne)

On the final day, we’ll focus on driving growth in the North East through skills development, community engagement, and local supply chain enhancement. We aim to showcase the North East’s strengths in renewables, tech, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, highlighting how these sectors can contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future.

Dr Jo North, the Port of Tyne’s Innovation Ecosystems Director, said: “As the maritime sector navigates towards a more sustainable future in 2024, there is a growing imperative to accelerate its transition to net zero. This year’s Maritime Innovation Week will spark thoughts, conversations and action around the expertise, vision and resources needed to achieve a transformational step change in leading sustainable innovation.”

Mike Kane MP, Maritime Minister, Department for Transport, said: “I’m delighted that Maritime Innovation Week is returning for its third year, and that the Port of Tyne is once again leading this important event. The industry has a crucial role to play in reducing emissions and growing the economy, with events like this bringing all of the right people together to make that happen.”