5 innovative companies selected to accelerate in Antwerp

The 2nd edition of PortXL’s Antwerp program has concluded its selections. 5 companies will be taking part in the program, kicking off on the 23rd of September and running until the conclusive Shakedown event on the 13th of December.

The PortXL Antwerp program acts as a local acceleration hub, and is centred around building client relations in the local ecosystem and matching start-ups with our partners.

During that time, the companies will embark on a business fast track program, where across various sessions, workshops and meetings they will work together with the partners on the 7 use cases defined during today’s selection day with the end goal to close paid contracts.

START-UPS & SCALE-UPS SITTING DOWN WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS TO ELABORATE ON THEIR SOLUTIONS DURING THE SELECTION DAY.

From Force Feedback to Worker Safety Wearables

Following an intense day filled with pitching, discussions and Q&As with the Antwerp ecosystem, 5 companies emerged as the cream of the crop and passed the strict selection criteria. They are:

Cnext – Belgium – Sector: Information Technology – Use Case with DEME and MSC Belgium

Evolution Energie – France – Sector: Software/Energy – Use Case with Port of Antwerp and DEME

ProcessDelight – Belgium – Sector: Information Technology – Use Case with MSC Belgium

Romware – Belgium – Sector: Maritime/Industrial Construction Safety – Use Case with Port of Antwerp

Smart-Ship – The Netherlands – Sector: Maritime – Use Case with DEME

*A 6th company, Mavisoft, was selected after extra consultation with MSC, More information here

The Antwerp ecosystem is looking forward to work together with them and make their operations smarter, safer, increasingly innovative and exceptionally effective with their contribution.

EVOLUTION ENERGIE CEO ERWIN GUIZOUARN (LEFT) SHAKING HANDS WITH ERWIN VERSTRAELEN (CDIIO PORT OF ANTWERP) AND CEES-WILLEM KOORNEEF (DIRECTOR PORTXL ANTWERP)

The Ecosystem

The PortXL Antwerp corporate partners that make this program possible are:

Port of Antwerp

The Antwerp Port Authority manages and maintains the docks, bridges, locks, quay walls and land. It is also responsible for the efficient passage and safety of the shipping traffic in the Antwerp port area. It provides tugs and cranes, carries out dredging work and promotes the port in Belgium and abroad.

EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. They help clients to capitalize on new opportunities and assess and manage risk to deliver responsible growth. Their high-performing, multidisciplinary teams help them fulfil regulatory requirements, keep investors informed and meet stakeholder needs. PortXL Antwerp and EY have engaged in a service partner collaboration.

MSC Belgium

MSC Belgium is a world leading maritime shipping agency and facilitates the transportation of containerized cargo to and from all 5 continents with weekly scheduled sailings and arrivals to and from the Port of Antwerp. Moreover, except the traditional shipping agency services, MSC Belgium offers today, via its intermodal partner, modern and innovative door-to-door tri-modal services (truck, rail, barge).

DEME Group

The dredging, environmental and marine engineering group DEME is an international market leader for complex marine engineering works, providing its clients with integrated, global solutions. Building on more than 140 years of experience and know-how, DEME has organically moved into several related sectors, such as the financing of marine engineering and environmental projects, executing complex EPC related marine engineering projects including civil engineering works, the development and construction of renewable energy projects, providing services for the oil, gas and energy sector, the decontaminating and recycling of polluted soils and silts and the harvesting of marine resources, etc.

The Beacon

Community partner who kindly provided the venue for the Selection Days and will be a home base for the selected companies for the duration of the program. They are an innovation hub that brings tech entrepreneurs, corporates and researchers together in the domains of smart cities, industry 4.0 and smart logistics.