Tag Archive for: TECHLOG

Final Conference of the TECHLOG project Highlights Achievements and Innovations in Mediterranean Logistics

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The TECHLOG Final Conference, hosted at the University of Cagliari, Italy, on December 1st, marked the culmination of 30 months of dedicated efforts within the ENI CBC MED – EU co-financed project aimed at advancing Technological Transfer for Logistics Innovation in the Mediterranean area. With a robust attendance of over 73 participants, the event showcased the project’s milestones, outputs, and profound impact on the regional logistics sector.

The conference commenced with esteemed speakers extending institutional greetings to the attendees. Notable figures included Francesco Mola, Rector of the University of Cagliari; Ada Lai, Counsellor for Labour, Vocational Training, Cooperation, and Social Security of the Sardinia Region; Massimo Deiana, President of the Sardinian Ports’ Authority; and Fabio Mereu from the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari, who also served as the delegate of ASCAME, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce.

Marco Melis, Director General of the ENI CBC MED Programme, Autonomous Region of Sardinia, delivered a comprehensive presentation, setting the tone for the conference and emphasizing the significance of ENI CBC MED projects in fostering collaboration and innovation within the Mediterranean region.

The heart of the conference featured two engaging roundtable discussions. The first focused on TECHLOG’s scientific results, with active participation from project partners representing the 5 participating countries Italy, Egypt, Spain, Lebanon and Tunisia. The roundtable covered topics including capacity building, agreements, and pilot actions in the Mediterranean area, featuring video presentations showcasing project results and interviews with crane and truck operators.

The second roundtable explored New Scenarios of the EURO-Mediterranean Transport Sector, offering insights into the evolving industry landscape. Moderated by Morena Pivetti, a transport and logistics journalist, the discussion included external stakeholders and industry experts from around the Mediterranean region, such as Vittorio Marzano, Professor at Federico II Naples University, Euan Lonmon – Board Member at GRENDI Group, Dr. Alaa Ezz – Secretary-General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations, Naima Zamoum – Business Development Manager Africa Trade Lane at CEVA Logistics  and Ummuhan Bardak – Senior Human Capital Development Expert – Skills Demand Analysis – European Training Foundation.

Audience members actively engaged in a dynamic questions & answers session, enriching the discussions and facilitating knowledge exchange. As TECHLOG enters its final month of the 30-month implementation period, the conference provided a valuable platform to reflect on the project’s impact and set the stage for future collaborations in the fields of logistics and technology.

TECHLOG (Technological Transfer for Logistics Innovation in the Mediterranean area) is an EU co-financed project with a duration of 30 months and a total budget of €3.4 million, of which €3.1 million (90%) is funded by the European Union. The project partners include the University of Cagliari in Italy (Lead beneficiary), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts, and Agriculture of Maremma and Tirreno (Italy), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (Egypt), the European School of Short Shipping, EEIG (Spain), the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (Egypt), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (Lebanon), the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria (Egypt), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sfax (Tunisia), and Sfax University (Tunisia).

For more information about TECHLOG, please visit: https://linktr.ee/techlog_project

Driving Innovation: Escola Europea and Barcelona Port Foundation join forces

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The TECHLOG Project, Port Virtual Lab and the Green Deal

Written by Eduard Rodés, Director of the Escola Europea

Written by Eduard Rodés, Director of the Escola Europea

At the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport we are slowly approaching the end of a very busy period. With the Europea project YEP MED nearing its final days, the Escola’s signature course bookings gaining full steam ahead, the SIL conference at which not one, but two of our big projects were featured alongside our signature training offers, and more, we have had very short periods of respite. This is good news for us – a testament to the influence that we hold throughout the Mediterranean port community. But this quarter I wanted to share with you – our alumni community –a particularly special partnership that we have forged; one with the Port of Barcelona’s Innovation Foundation.

This past month, the Escola Europea has forged a strategic alliance with the Barcelona Port Innovation Foundation, setting a firm commitment to propel the transformation of the maritime-port sector. The agreement highlights already existing innovative initiatives such as TECHLOG – a project co-funded by the European Union which will encourage joint Technology Transfer Initiatives (TTI) to achieve common quality standards for transport and port specialized staff within the participating ports and beyond – and Port Virtual Lab – a complete logistics virtual simulator that offers technological and educational tools through which international trade, logistics and transport students or professionals can simulate real life operations. Central to these efforts is the two parties’ dedication towards achieving the objectives of the European Union’s Green Deal, with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability that encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Transforming the Maritime-Port Sector

The Barcelona Port Innovation Foundation, supported by prominent entities such as the Port of Barcelona, Ackcent, and Aggity, has set forth an ambitious mission to establish the maritime-port sector as a worldwide leader in innovation and operational excellence. Fuelled by their unwavering dedication, their primary objective revolves around transforming the Port of Barcelona into a dynamic Smart Hub, underpinned by the seamless integration of cutting-edge technological advancements and the fundamental principles of the Blue Economy.

And this is where we come in.

TECHLOG

TECHLOG project

As an integral part of this endeavour, the Escola Europea actively participates in the TECHLOG project, which is co-financed by the ENI CBCMED programme. This initiative entails a series of activities directed towards training educators for the development of Living Labs.

“A Living Lab (LL) is an open-innovation ecosystem centered around user participation, situated within a public-private-people partnership. This unique model is rooted in a systematic user co-creation approach, seamlessly integrating research and innovation processes.”

The Escola Europea has been at the forefront of these labs in Livorno (Italy) for participants from the Western Mediterranean, and in Alexandria (Egypt) for participants from the Eastern Mediterranean – making sure that the knowledge is accessible by parties from across our shared Sea.

Most Mediterranean sectors suffer from poor connections between research, development and education, from one side, and, the real economy, from the other side – a situation that TECHLOG wants to address by strengthening ties between academia and the (trans)port industry. By encouraging joint Technology Transfer Initiatives (TTI) to achieve common quality standards for transport and port specialized staff, the goal is to create a Mediterranean Open Lab to promote and share those initiatives within the (trans)port communities. These TTI will be tested through pilot actions, in real port operators, and will involve trained staff.

The Port Virtual Lab

Moreover, the Escola Europea and the Foundation are collaborating on the development of Port Virtual Lab (PVL). This venture is an innovation laboratory where burgeoning technological solutions are explored and validated, creating a unique environment of collaboration and learning using simulators and simulated companies. Essentially, PVL is a training platform that allows performing operations related to logistics and international transport in our Virtual Port Community. Both professionals and students are be able to experience first hand activities related to international trade, while interacting with our simulated companies.

Success of Port Virtual Lab

The Escola has received numerous success stories following the launch of Port Virtual Lab and its incorporation in the courses developed under the European YEP MED programme, of which we are lead partners. The development of the European project encountered significant obstacles in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, and the experiential training courses planned for the initiative could no longer take place. This gave rise to the PVL platform. With an instrumental partnership from Click & Cargo, at the Escola we were able to create this amazing and comprehensive tool that would help us take the port operations and transactions directly to the monitors of our remote students. PVL was fundamental in maintaining continuity in education and student internships.

The platform’s power has been enhanced through its continuous usage and improvement processes. Today, companies expect students to have prior simulator training, which greatly speeds up their learning curve when they begin internships or enter the workforce directly. This demonstrates the practical value and effectiveness of the training provided by Port Virtual Lab, and shines a bright light on its future.

Commitment to Sustainability

Each project spearheaded by the Escola Europea underscores its unwavering commitment to holistic sustainability, embracing the realms of economic, social, and environmental well-being for us as global citizens. This profound dedication finds resonance with the ambitious targets outlined in the European Union’s Green Deal.

The Green Deal, proposed by the European Commission, is an audacious set of policy initiatives directed towards making Europe climate neutral by 2050. These initiatives not only focus on environmental preservation but also on revitalizing the economy and improving the quality of life for all citizens. By aligning our pursuits with those outlined in the initiatives, we are striving to ensure our contributions effectively drive towards a sustainable, resilient, and just Europe. Working together, the Escola and the Barcelona Port Foundation can work towards ensuring that Barcelona is at the vanguard of Europe’s efforts to bring around a sustainable Mediterranean.

Conclusion

The partnership between the Escola Europea and the Barcelona Port Innovation Foundation is built upon the pillars of collaboration, sustainable development, knowledge, and innovation. Leveraging the Escola’s pioneering simulated business solutions and training methods, their expertise can be harnessed at every stage of the innovation process.

The strategic alliance between the Escola Europea and the Barcelona Port Innovation Foundation plays a pivotal role in spearheading innovation, sustainability, and efficiency within the maritime-port sector, with a unique Mediterranean and Barcelona perspective. With a steadfast commitment to education, innovation, and the development of transformative solutions, we can  contribute significantly to the transformation of the Port of Barcelona into a globally recognized Smart Hub.

You too can get involved!

Today, we must all accept that innovation is the fuel for building a new society that needs to confront substantial economic, environmental, and social challenges. Follow the activities that the Foundation and the Escola are doing and will do in the future. Engage in those where you can contribute.

Together, we are strong

TECHLOG Project Showcases Innovative Simulation Solutions at International Logistics Conference in Barcelona

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Between the 7th and 9th of June 2023, TECHLOG partners participated in the prestigious 25th edition of the International Logistics Conference (Salon Internacional de Logística) held in Barcelona. As the city transformed into the global logistics hub, TECHLOG seized the opportunity to present cutting-edge simulation technologies and their applications in the industry.

The TECHLOG booth featured a selection of Living Labs, including the highly immersive Euro Truck Simulator, designed to transport visitors into various international trade, logistics, and transport scenarios. “Our simulators accurately recreate realistic training environments for professionals in port logistics, such as truck drivers and crane operators. Moreover, they offer fair participants an immersive and informative experience, providing a comprehensive overview of the TECHLOG project,” explained Orlando Reveco, representative of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, a valued TECHLOG partner.

Throughout the event, the TECHLOG project delivered special demonstrations showcasing its platforms and diverse applications. Notably, a truck driving competition utilizing the advanced simulator attracted attendees’ attention, highlighting how the use of simulation can enhance truck drivers’ skills, focus, safety, environmental efficiency, and sustainability. The competition brought an extra level of excitement to the International Logistics Conference which showcased the skills and expertise of participating attendees, who vied for the top spot in a challenging simulation scenario. The event was a resounding success, with two deserving winners emerging victorious, demonstrating their exceptional abilities and mastery of logistics operations.

Furthermore, TECHLOG partners took full advantage of the conference to foster collaboration and establish fruitful business connections. Multiple B2B meetings were held between the project partners and various industry stakeholders, including leading companies, logistics experts, and policymakers. These meetings provided a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, exploring potential partnerships, and identifying new avenues for technological transfer and innovation in the logistics sector. The engaging discussions and productive networking sessions further solidified TECHLOG’s position as a catalyst for positive change and advancement in the Mediterranean logistics landscape.

Beyond the booth activities, TECHLOG partners, stakeholders, and facilitators actively participated in the 19th MedaLogistics Summit, emphasizing the significant impact of technological transfer and innovation in simulation for companies. During the MedaLogistics conference on the 8th and 9th of June, prominent speakers including Eduard Rodés, Director of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, Ahmed El Wakil, President of ASCAME, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of CEEBA, Gianfranco Fancello and Patrizia Serra from the University of Cagliari UNICA CIREM, and Rabih Sabra, General Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon, presented the developed Living Labs. This showcase took place at the Agora, the main meeting space of the SIL conference, within the stand of the Port of Barcelona, an integral part of the city’s infrastructure.

TECHLOG’s active participation in the event proved to be a catalyst in fostering meaningful connections among influential stakeholders in the Mediterranean transport and logistics sectors. By showcasing the power of innovative simulations, the project demonstrated how experiential education can effectively transform the learning experience. This successful engagement reaffirms TECHLOG’s unwavering commitment to revolutionize the industry through state-of-the-art simulation solutions. With a focus on driving collaborative efforts and embracing innovation, TECHLOG strives to create a more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected logistics ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders involved. The project remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of logistics education and technology for the advancement of the Mediterranean region and beyond.

TECHLOG, a 30-month EU co-financed project with a total budget of €3.4 million, of which €3.1 million (90%) is funded by the European Union, aims to drive logistics innovation through technological transfer in the Mediterranean area. The project consortium comprises lead beneficiary University of Cagliari in Italy, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture of Maremma and Tirino (Italy), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Egypt), the European School of Short Shipping, EEIG (Spain), the Federation of Egyptian European Business Associations (Egypt), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (Lebanon), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sfax (Tunisia), and Sfax University (Tunisia).

Immersive learning

Immersive learning to take centre stage during SIL as the Escola Europea promotes its latest projects

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Immersive learning

The Escola Europea will take to the floors of the fair to not only present its signature training offer, but also to promote the international projects that it is involved in, along with its latest virtual immersive learning programmes.

Between the 7th and 9th of June, 2023, during the 25th edition of the International Logistics Conference (Salon Internacional de Logística), the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport will bring its virtual port community – Port Virtual Lab – to the fore. The SIL (Salón Internacional de Logística) will have its 25th edition, which annually turns the Catalan city into the world’s capital for logistics.

On the 6th of June, the Escola Europea will host a simulator competition in the framework of the TECHLOG project stand – a project funded by the ENI CBC Med Programme. The competition will highlight the benefits for companies and institutions of introducing simulation in advance trainings with the use of a special simulator – the Euro Truck. This simulator, through the use of immersive learning, can help truck drivers improve their driving skills by improving their ability to focus, reducing the risk of accidents, improving environmental efficiency, and encouraging sustainability. The competition will run through SIL, culminating on the 8th of June with the crowning of the winner. On this same day, the TECHLOG project and its benefits will be showcased in the stand of the Port of Barcelona.

The Escola’s virtual port community – Port Virtual Lab (PVL) – will be presented within the confines of the stand of the Port of Barcelona – one of the most important stands, being of the port of the city in which the conference takes place. Taking immersive learning to the virtual sphere, PVL offers opportunities for students to experience trade operations first-hand in secure and controlled scenarios that allow room for error whilst maintaining an authentic sense of real-life operations.

Alongside PVL, the Escola also will share with the enterprise community the different initiatives to attract and retain talent in the Port Community with the program  Vine al Port, fostered by the Port of Barcelona’s Training and Employment Work Group, which aims to bring the local training institutes closer to the realities of local companies, and therewith align the curricula offered with the skills sought for by the professionals of today and tomorrow.

Along with the activities that take place within the SIL, on the 8th and 9th of June, the 19th MedaLogistics Summit will take place. Eduard Rodés, the director of the Escola Europea, together with with Ahmed El Wakil, president of ASCAME, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of CEEBA, Gianfranco Fancello and Patrizia Serra from the University of Cagliari UNICA CIREM, and Rabih Sabra, General Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon, will outline the beneficial impact of technological transfer and innovation in simulation for companies.

The Escola unites Northern, Central and Southern Italy within its classrooms through the incorporation of the Port of Palermo as the newest member

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With the incorporation of the Port of Palermo as a member of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, the training centre unites the north, centre and south of Italy with a common purpose of encouraging training in logistics, sustainable transport and maritime intermodality.

APRIL 20, 2023 (CIVITAVECCHIA) – The Governing Board of the Escola Europea held its annual meeting on the 20th of April of this month at the headquarters of the Port of Civitavecchia.

Members of the Executive Committee of the Escola Europea during the annual meeting held on the 20th of April 2023.

From left to right: Alessia Mastromattei, Marta Miquel, Catalina Grimalt, Luca Lupi, Marco Muci, Eduard Rodes, Pino Musolino, (in the back) Silvio Ferrando, Lluís Salvador, Antonio Pedevila, Antonino Ilardi, Mario Massarotti, Marta Coppola, Agustí Filomeno

For the first time in the history of the organisation, the Governing Board, under the chairmanship of Lluís Salvadó, voted and unanimously approved the entry of a new member, the Port of Palermo and, therefore, the Authority of the Maritime Port System of Western Sicily, into the Escola Europea-Intermodal Transport. With the addition of the Port of Palermo as a general member, it joins the ranks of the founding members the Port of Barcelona, the Port of Civitavecchia, the Port of Genoa and the shipping companies Grimaldi Lines and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV).

The meeting was attended by: the President of the Port of Civitavecchia, Pino Musolino; the Director of the Escola Europea, Eduard Rodés; the CEO of GNV, Matteo Catani, as members of the Governing Board. As a part of the Executive Committee, the Deputy Director General for Organisation and Internal Resources of the Port of Barcelona, Catalina Grimalt; the General Manager of Grimaldi Lines Spain, Mario Massarotti; the Head of Marketing and International Business of the Port of Genoa, Silvio Ferrando; GNV Board Member, Antonio Pedevilla; Marta Coppola, member of the Presidency Cabinet of the Port of Civitavecchia, attended. The newly incorporated to the committee Secretary General of the Port of Palermo, Luca Lupi was also present, in addition to the head of the Presidency Cabinet of the Port of Barcelona, Agustí Filomeno; and Marta Miquel, Chief Business Officer of the Escola Europea.

The board members reviewed the activities carried out by the Escola in 2022, which totalled 160 actions with 5,542 participants. It was a record figure in the history of the institution in terms of courses and participants.

In parallel, the Escola has participated in several European projects, such as YEP MED for the promotion of quality employment among young people in the Mediterranean, and TECHLOG, which is developing Living Labs for training with simulation in the port environment.

Escola presents its current and future projects and training to Lluís Salvadó, the President of the Port of Barcelona

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As part of his welcome and incorporation into the presidency of the Port of Barcelona, Lluís Salvadó visited the Barcelona headquarters of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport (Escola Europea), a key player within the Port Community, to learn about new training initiatives and future projects.

On the 21st of February 2023, Lluis Salvadó, President of the Port of Barcelona and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Escola Europea, together with Catalina Grimalt Falcó, Deputy Director General for Organisation and Internal Resources of the Port of Barcelona and Member of the Executive Board, both representing the Port Authority of Barcelona, visited the headquarters of the Escola Europea to learn about the new training initiatives organised and promoted by the training centre, as well as the innovation, digitalisation and sustainable development projects of which the Escola is a part.

Welcoming the  visitors were the Eduard Rodés – Director of the Escola Europea, Concha Palacios – the Financial Director and Head of Projects, Marta Miquel – Business Development Manager, Mireia Ferré – Director of the Technical Office of Sustainability of the Port of Barcelona, Mireia Ferre, and, connected virtually from the headquarters of the Escola Europea in Civitavecchia (Italy), Marco Muci – the Country Manager for Italy.

At the meeting, the Escola’s training activities at both local and international levels were presented, which included Forma’t al Port Talent, the technical courses in maritime intermodality MOST – Motorways of the Sea Training, rail freight transport – SURCO, and management of temperature-controlled logistics chains, together with the training work carried out in Italy within the framework of the Formati al Porto programme and the GLIPS (Management of Integrated Logistics and Maritime Processes) training in Civitavecchia.

The training offer presentation was followed by a summary of the annual participation figures for the previous year, in which a record number of participants was broken with more than 5,542 participants. Of those, 2,111 were students from training and technical courses and 3,431 attended workshops and maritime visits in the Port of Barcelona. The participation figures forecast for the year 2023 showed an estimated 6% growth in student participation of logistics courses and workshops is planned.

The projects that have been consolidated by the institution were also presented to the Catalan port’s leadership: the YEP MED project – Youth Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean – with which a training offer on port logistics has been presented; and the TECHLOG project – Technological Transfer for Logistics Innovation in Mediterranenan area – which foresees the implementation of two ‘Living Labs’ from which the development of innovation actions with simulator technology is foreseen. Both European projects are financed by ENI CBC MED, in which different Mediterranean port communities are participating.

As part of the strategy of consolidation and evolution of the European YEP MED project, the Escola developed the Port Virtual Lab, a virtual simulation laboratory of a port community portvirtuallab.com.

In the photo are from left to right: Director of the Escola Europea, Eduard Rodés, Lluis Salvadó, President of the Port of Barcelona, Financial Director and Head of Projects, Concha Palacios, General Business Director, Marta Miquel, Catalina Grimalt Falcó, Deputy Director General for Organisation and Internal Resources, and Mireia Ferre, Director of the Port of Barcelona’s Technical Office for Sustainability.

In addition, some of the projects that point to the future and are in line with the trends of the Blue Economy, and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were presented to respond to the training and innovation needs of the industry.

Escola Europea heads to Beirut to support the transfer of innovative solutions for advanced (trans)port training

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In the framework of the 3rd TECHLOG Steering Committee meeting that took place in Beirut, Lebanon on 18 & 19 October 2022, the Chamber of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, partner in the project, organized the launch event of the Eastern Living Lab pertaining to the technological transfer for logistics innovation in Mediterranean area for (trans)port training. The launch event and Steering Committee meetings took place in Beirut, with TECHLOG consortium partners from Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon as well as Lebanese stakeholders from port, logistics, innovation labs and academic institutions in attendance. The project works towards the modernisation and optimisation of trans(port) for supply chains through the development of innovative tools for the technology transfers within port industries.

Mr. Rabih Sabra, Director General of Beirut Chamber welcomed the partners and participants form Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon and shed lights on the Chamber’s leading role in ENI CBC MED projects for y(tranears. He emphasized the relevance of TECHLOG since it will not only enhance the partnership between Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean Basin but will also give Lebanon and the port and transport community of Beirut an opportunity to upscale its workforce skills and to benefit from the technology transfer through the new living labs network. Speakers included Mrs. Alessia Squarcella, Deputy Head of Cooperation from the EU Delegation in Lebanon, Dr. Kassem Rahhal, Advisor to the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Professors, Gianfranco Fancello & Patrizia Serra,  from University of Cagliari , the Lead Beneficiary of the TECHLOG project, and Dr. Sandra Haddad, Vice Dean at Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport  (AASTMT).

Mrs. Hana Nehme, Head of Development projects at Beirut Chamber opened the axes of discussions between the Lebanese stakeholders and the project partners on innovation challenges and needs, alignment of academic approach, and opportunities offered by the TECHLOG project.  The Lebanese stakeholders who attended the event, namely, Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) and Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM), International Navigation Chamber, the American University of Beirut, ESA business School, and American University of Technology.

“It is amazing to be able to see the hard work that our partners have done over the past year in person” stated Concha Palacios – Chief Project Officer at the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport. “The innovative Living Labs and simulators now under development will be indispensable in the growth of supply chains across the Mediterranean, and central in the creation of training offers available to professionals and students alike. Moreover, through such collaborative team work with partners from all shores of the Mediterranean, we can develop real-life, virtual and simulation tools that can be used for training in all markets of the region.”

Members of the Escola Europea met with fellow partners from CEEBA – lead partner in the ENI CBC Med financed TechLog project

The Escola Europea is in the process of launching its own Living Lab – the Port Virtual Lab (PVL) – which is a comprehensive technological and educational development tool set up as a virtual port community. Within it, international transport and logistics students, and professionals can simulate real-life operations and have access to a variety of innovative tools that will help them develop and perfect their knowledge. Certain modules and simulators of the PVL are developed in the framework of the TechLog project.

For more information, you can contact the Escola at international@escolaeuropea.eu.

TECHLOG (Technological Transfer for Logistics Innovation in Mediterranean area) duration is and EU co-financed project of 30 months with a total budget of €3.4 million, of which €3.1 million (90%) is funded by the European Union. The project partners are the University of Cagliari of  Italy (Lead beneficiary), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture of Maremma and Tirino (Italy), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Egypt), the European School of Short Shipping, EEIG (Spain), and the Federation of Egyptian European Business Associations (Egypt) ), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (Lebanon), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sfax (Tunisia), and Sfax University (Tunisia). 

Escola Europea takes a closer look at Technology Transfer Initiatives and Living Labs

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With the first six months of the EU-funded TechLog project finishing, the technical aspects of the premise of the project take a more central stage. Orlando Reveco, from the Escola Europea, helps us understand what Technology Transfer Initiatives and Living Labss are in an in-depth interview about these innovative characteristics of research and education.

Q:Can you please tell me a little bit about your background, and how you will be involved in the TechLog project over the next few years?

A: I have had the opportunity of being closely linked to the technological world for many years in which I worked in companies that focus on finding technological solutions for all kinds of issues. Across the development of my professional career, I have also had the opportunity to cooperate in various educational projects. I have seen first-hand how such a cooperation between the use of technology in training activities yields better results and becomes a powerful force that can accelerate economic growth.

TechLog presents an opportunity to expand my knowledge and use my experience to benefit a project oriented in the exchange of technology for the development of an area that is increasingly important. Being part of a team that will help prepare professionals capable of facing the challenges of the coming years and establish a permanent cross-border EU-Med area where organisations and port authorities co-create and share new technology transfers initiatives, is a great personal motivation for me.

Q: Could you explain what Technology Transfer Initiatives and Living Labs are for the “uninitiated”?

A: Technology transfer initiatives are processes that help disseminate technology from the individual or organisation that owns or holds it to another individual or organisation, therewith helping transform inventions and scientific outcomes into new products and services that benefit society at large.

 They represent an invaluable opportunity where knowledge and practice exchanges in professional environments, designed by organisations with a lot of educational experience and logistics operators, will take place and will allow all parties to be part of a project without borders in which they will be able to establish a network and share practical experiences, therewith increasing their chances of success in the future.

 A living lab on the other hand is a research concept, which may be defined as a user-centred, open-innovation ecosystem that integrates contemporaneous research and innovation processes within a public-private-people partnership.

There are no limitations to the advantages that these types of initiative can provide, especially in regional exchange scenarios where the personal development of its participants will inevitably become the success of the objectives proposed by the international project.

Q: The Escola Europea has begun developing the Port Virtual Lab platform over the past two years. How can this platform help TechLog achieve its goals?

A: Port Virtual Lab is a very complete project that offers technological educational development tools. Initially, we talked about a platform that was to be used as a meeting point for all those who have knowledge and professional development needs in the international transportation and logistics environment – and now it has morphed into a teaching tool that is used to replicate real-life port and logistics operations in the Escola’s courses.

 It is for this reason that PortVirtual Lab and TechLog will have no problem working together, as both of them are fundamentally complete tools and platforms that work towards the development of advanced academic content, and which are endorsed by organisations with long and recognised records.

Q: How effective do you think are virtual simulators in imitating reality, especially when it comes to training?

Virtual simulators not only capture the interest of the person who uses them, but in my opinion they can represent a new way of turning hours of theoretical and practical experiences in the classroom into fun experiences – all of which encourage immersive learning.

 Carrying out training for future logistics operators in innovative virtual reality systems allows them to get to know the environment where they will carry out their activities and experience situations that they may probably find but that are difficult to replicate in a real environment – and it does so safely without peril to real-life clients and supply chain operations.

Q: How common would you say is it currently in Mediterranean countries to use simulation practices in the field of transport? What do you think is(are) contributing factors to this?

I am completely sure that it will be an increasingly recurrent practice. The demand for services in the logistics and transport sector in the Mediterranean increases every year and this can only mean that every day more and better-trained personnel will be needed to meet the ever-changing requirements and reach geographical and environmental goals and standards.

Training must be accompanied by a methodology that allows us to focus on the necessary procedures and can be adapted to the work schemes of each port community; it is a flexibility that only the use of systems with these characteristics can offer.

 This is a way to achieve common work operations processes where all Mediterranean members have an equal footing.

Changes made to the Escola’s Steering and Academic Committees

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Distance learning, digitalisation and courses that provide answers to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic will mark the evolution of the Escola Europea in the near future.

During the Steering Committee of the Escola Europea, held on the 22nd of April 2020, Catalina Grimalt for the Port of Barcelona and Mario Massaroti for the Grimaldi Group were added to the members of the Executive Committee. This was in accordance with the agreement adopted by the Governing Council presided over by the President of the Port of Barcelona, Mercè Conesa, and which also had the President of the Ports of Genoa, Paolo Emilio Signorini; the President of Ports of Rome, Antonio Maria di Majo; the CEO of GNV, Matteo Catani, and the members of the Executive Committee Eduard Rodés, Silvio Ferrando, Antonio Pedevila, Mario Massarotti, Catalina Grimalt, Pedro Arellano and Luca Lupi participated.

The Steering Committe also approved changes to the Academic Committee. Marta Miquel, representing the Escola Europea, and taking on the role of the secretary of the Committee; Lluis París for the Port of Barcelona; Leonardo Picozzi, representing the Ports of Genoa; Giovanni Marinucci for the Ports of Rome; and Agustí Martí for the Faculty of Nautics of Barcelona-UPC, were incorporated to the list of members.

As a result of the current global health crisis, new initiatives of the Escola Europea linked to the teaching of courses that combine an online part for theory and a physical part for practical workshops, as well as the development of new courses related to the safety and protection regulations that are going to be implemented as a consequence of COVID-19, have been approved.

The Committee was informed of the recent approval of two projects in the field of training and employment under the European Commission’s ENI-CBCMED programme. The YEP-MED project led by the Escola Europea with a budget of EUR 3 million and involving 7 countries from the Mediterranean basin; and the TECHLOG project led by the University of Cagliari with a budget of EUR 3,5 million. Both projects have a duration period of 30 months.

Some current issues were also discussed, such as the important work of the shipping companies in the repatriation of persons who were travelling at the time the state of emergency and lockdown were announced. President Conesa emphasized the importance of the collaboration of Grimaldi Lines and GNV, which has helped manage extremely complex situations.

The Council agreed to hold an emergency meeting at the end of June to better monitor developments in the overall situation.