The Pomorskie Region about INCONE60

The Local Government of the Pomeranian Region wrote an article about the INCONE60 project and published it on their web portal. It can be found HERE.

The article is written in Polish. The translation is below.

“INCONE60 - good practices of small and medium-sized seaports

One of our team's missions is to share good project practices with you. Get to know the project - INCONE60.

INCONE60 – what is it?

It is a project implemented in 2018-2022 as part of the Interreg South Baltic cross-border cooperation program 2014-2020. The project's original name in English is 'Inland Blue Transport Connector E60'. This project aims to create the concept of conditions for more efficient transport along the E60 sea route. In addition, it is intended to create the conditions for increasing the role of small and medium-sized ports in the international market. The project's biggest challenge is to include small and medium-sized ports in an integrated transport system. Next, increasing their competitiveness and, as a result, boosting the local economy of the regions.

International consortium

The INCONE60 project is implemented by an international group of partners from Polish, Lithuania, Danish and Belgium. The project leader is the Maritime Institute of the Maritime University of Gdynia. The project also represents small ports mentioned for the project – the Port ofWładysławowo, the Port of Vordingborg in Denmark and the Port of Oostende in Belgium.

What will the project produce?

One of the products that will be produced as part of the four-year project is an open cargo flow model and physical testing of the produced model as part of pilot actions on the international waterway E60. In addition, a number of other documents will serve the target group – small and medium-sized ports. One such documentation is the Concept of Port Development in Władysławowo, which can be read on the website of the port administrator – "Szkuner".

Why is the INCONE60 project so unique?

First of all, the scope of impact translates into an important and somewhat neglected issue of the different functions of small and medium-sized ports. The latter have to face intense competition, which are large regional ports for them, in the case of the Pomeranian Region – seaports in Gdańsk and Gdynia. Some of them see their future tourism opportunities and the service of wind platforms in the Baltic Sea. Considering the above, it is crucial to invest and explore the development opportunities of small and medium-sized ports. The INCONE60 project makes this possible. In addition, it is one of the good examples of the so-called "complementary projects", i.e. projects that plan their activities well and plan in a forward-looking manner. The preliminary results of the INCONE60 project – in particular the model mentioned above – enabled the partnership to expand its activities and expand the project with an implementation element under the Horizon 2020 programme – 'ePIcenter'

Horizon 2020 'ePIcenter' – what does it have to do with INCONE60?

The project is implemented in the program centrally managed by the European Commission – Horizon 2020 entitled 'ePIcenter'. The project explores the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, digitalisation, automation and innovation in freight transport and transhipment technologies, creating powerful solutions to create resilient, efficient and greener supply chains. The project gives an extensive range of implementation possibilities thanks to numerous partnerships at the level of the entire European Union and even globally. There are also Polish state-owned companies among the numerous partners – PKP PLK. In addition, the aforementioned Maritime University in Gdynia. Examples of other global companies are – DHL, Panasonic, and Stena Line. In addition, the largest ports in Europe: are the Port of Montreal, the Port of Algeciras and the Port of Antwerp. If you want to get acquainted with the 'ePIcenter' project, go to the project website.

Smart Growth Award

During the annual national Intelligent Development Forum, which in 2021 took place in Toruń, the INCONE60 project received an award in the category: Innovative technologies and research of the future. The award was received by Mr Tomasz Tarasiuk – Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development of the Maritime University of Gdynia. It is worth mentioning that the Polish Intelligent Development Award is a prestigious distinction in the business and scientific environment, which popularises, promotes, and appreciates the creators of technological and social innovations and investments that directly or indirectly raise people's standard of living.”