Smart Port Hackathon Season 2: Three "Favourite Idea" Projects
The second Smart Port Hackathon to be organized by Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port came to an end on Thursday evening at the Halle 6 Ouest Technology Centre and opens a new season of development. The participants took up the 5 challenges proposed. Each project will be pursued so as to arrive at digital solutions. The "Fun Energy", "Looport" and "Port 4 All" projects received a "favourite idea" prize from the Judges.
Over 100 participants including students, representatives of start-ups, digital technology companies, industrial firms, logistics providers and Port Community professionals, came together over the course of 3 days at the Halle 6 Ouest Technology Centre in Nantes, an iconic location when it comes to university research and innovation, to respond to the five challenges laid down by Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port.
They came before a Panel of Judges comprising some major players in the port-based and digital technology ecosystem: François-Xavier Roche (SGAR), Charles Delalonde (Pays de la Loire Regional Authority), Safia D'Ziri (Loire Atlantique Departmental Authority), Florence LeGoff (Nantes Metropolitan District Council), Frédérique Lamy (Nantes Ports Maritime Union), Patrick Vanneraud (Total Energies), Guillaume Dalmard (Loire Pilots Association), Justine Ramilison (Epitech), Franz Jarry (ADN Ouest), Matthieu Colombel (Agence Blackmeal), Olivier Rocaboy (Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire CCI), Pascal Fréneau (Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port), and Olivier Trétout (Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port).
Each project captured the attention of the Judges and will be explored in greater depth. Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port has undertaken to invest in the development of these solutions following on from the Hackathon.
In response to Challenge N° 1, "Enhancing Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port’s property development and real estate offer within a dynamic Regional Community", two complementary solutions were presented. The first project entitled "Lookout" provides for the creation of a dynamic, interactive commercial showcase. It should serve to enhance the property development and real estate offers through a system of preselection criteria and an immersive 3D tour of the sites, incorporating the production of a digital twin. The second project named "Lay Your Anchor" proposes an immersive experience based on enriched 360° views and mapping. The Judges have suggested that the development work be pursued by combining these two solutions.
One team took up Challenge N° 2, "Understanding the dynamics of the energy transition process being driven by Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port and its partners". The "Fun Energy" concept consists in creating a "serious game" model of game to involve citizens in the energy transition process. Throughout the game, they will be able to act as players and measure the impact of their choices from an environmental, economic or job-creation viewpoint. This solution received one of the "favourite idea" prizes from the Judges.
The theme of Challenge N° 3 was "Using digital technology to serve the Port Community’s circular economy." "Looport Community", the team that responded to this challenge, is proposing a system making it possible to secure the sourcing arrangements of industrial firms, to control costs, and to anticipate the growing scarcity of natural resources. The app should enable users to obtain information about existing approaches and to realize viable synergies. This attractive, innovative solution received one of the "favourite idea" prizes from the Judges.
Challenge N° 4, entitled "Orchestrating and optimizing transport operations and logistical flows in the Port Authority area", was taken up by three teams. The first team, named "FlexiPort", proposed a solution to regulate traffic within the Port Authority area. The second, called "Optiport", worked on a project to reduce the number of road hauliers’ empty kilometres. For its part, the third team, named "Oxyport", worked on designing a system making it possible to free up HGV traffic flows. The three teams have been asked to join together to develop these intentions in a single, joint solution.
And lastly, Challenge N° 5, the subject of which was "Creating the digital community of Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port’s salaried employees", produced a collaborative digital solution involving the sharing of information and serving to create interaction between staff members. This solution proposed by the "Port 4 All" team is the third to receive one of the "favourite idea" prizes from the Judges.
Going beyond the proposed solutions, which will be further explored and developed, the Smart Port Hackathon demonstrates one again that, through the collective intelligence of different committed and enthusiastic participants, Nantes ‒ Saint Nazaire Port obtains genuine, concrete solutions that will contribute to its innovation and to its appeal as regards the most challenging topics. As a unifying, meaningful gathering, this event now forms an integral part of the Loire Estuary Community landscape.
