The International Port Entrepreneurship Conference 2026 (PEIC’26) commenced in Valencia with representatives from ports, startups, and investors from around the world. Marc Chao, President of the Port of Valencia (PAV), highlighted the importance of innovation as a fundamental need for growth and competitiveness in this sector during the opening ceremony.
Commitment to Innovation at the Port of Valencia
Marc Chao emphasized at the event that the Port of Valencia continues its commitment to practical innovation by launching several initiatives, particularly the "Valenciaport Sandbox." He explained that the "Sandbox" was created with a simple goal: to test innovative solutions in the real port environment. This president also expressed hope that projects like this would accelerate the process of transferring innovation to implementation more quickly and effectively.
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Strong Presence of Startups and International Investors
Antonio Turegrosa, CEO of the Valencia Port Foundation, mentioned the strong interest from ports, large companies, investors, and innovation leaders to participate in this event, viewing it as a sign of the emergence of a larger international community that sees open innovation as a key driver for the future of maritime and logistics sectors.
At this conference, over 45 startups from 12 different countries have gathered to introduce their technologies to the port community. During the two-day event, 20 startups will present their technologies, and five other startups will participate in the "VDS pitch" competition. Additionally, 13 startups will take part in the "PEIC Resilience Forum."
This conference, now in its fourth edition held in the "City of Arts and Sciences," has introduced new features including the "PEIC Demo on the Lake" and a larger "Agora Stage." These changes have been designed based on the spirit of previous editions to create connections between startups, international port companies, and specialized investors.
PEIC has established itself as an essential event in the port innovation calendar. Throughout this event, Valencia Port acts as a meeting point for ports in Spain and other countries to share common challenges, discover innovative solutions, and connect directly with the companies developing them.
Marc Chao concluded by saying, "That is why events like this are very important. They bring together people who understand the operational challenges in this sector and those who are working to solve them. This is where partnerships are formed and, in many cases, turn into innovations that have a significant impact."
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