Inmarsat has confirmed that it will partner with the Trade & Transport Impact (T&TI) maritime start-up programme initiated by Hamburg-based Rainmaking to support the development of new companies in the shipping technology sector, the second such programme it has recently joined after being announced as a partner in the Portuguese government-backed Bluetech Accelerator at the end of January.
Both of these start-up programmes aim to create initiatives that will directly support start-ups focused on IoT and Big Data innovation in the maritime, ports and logistics supply chain, through the provision of fund, support and mentoring. Inmarsat will join Cargotec and Wärtsilä as existing programme partners within the T&TI initiative.
“Companies operating across the global supply chain clearly acknowledge the potential of digitalisation, and recognise that we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible. Unlocking the full benefits will require fresh perspectives on both long-standing and looming challenges,” said Ali Grey, Senior Director of Digital Incubation at Inmarsat.
“Start-ups are good at spotting opportunities that more established players miss, so it is important for the industry’s future that we offer a helping hand to nurture innovation.”
“For Inmarsat, supporting companies in the global supply chain is not simply about deploying the most advanced communications infrastructure. It is also about supporting the creation of applications that directly address an organisation’s challenges and helps transform these into significant opportunities.”
The Bluetech Accelerator, sponsored by the Portuguese Government and based in Lisbon, was launched at the end of January and features six business partners (including Inmarsat) that will select and finance a group of winning start-ups, which will be chosen in the last quarter of 2019.
