The PIER has welcomed Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore and Belfast Harbour as the newest members of the Port Innovators Network, a worldwide association aimed at boosting innovation adoption across the global ports ecosystem.
The membership strengthens PIN’s reach into the Northern Ireland maritime and offshore sector and connects Belfast Harbour’s digital transformation programme with international port innovation peers.
NIMO brings together members from industry, government and academia to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions across maritime and offshore sectors in Northern Ireland, with particular strengths in autonomous systems, offshore renewables, innovative port technologies and technology transfer from aerospace into the marine sector.
Belfast Harbour serves as Northern Ireland’s principal maritime gateway, handling 70 percent of the region’s seaborne trade and 25 percent of seaborne trade for the island of Ireland, supporting GBP 8.8 billion in total Gross Value Added to the regional economy.
Dr Kerry Muldoon, Executive Director of NIMO, highlighted the two-way benefit of PIN membership, enabling Northern Ireland’s innovative small and medium enterprises to gain international exposure while providing other PIN members with direct access to the capabilities and innovations developed in the region.
She described PIN’s matchmaking network as accelerating connections that would otherwise take years to establish independently.
Mike Dawson, People and Digital Transformation Director at Belfast Harbour, noted the port’s ongoing digital transformation as part of its 2025 to 2050 Masterplan, which targets an integrated, data-driven operating model improving safety, productivity and resilience.
Existing investments include enhanced connectivity and live monitoring, automated environmental and fuel monitoring and digitalised documentation.
He framed PIN membership as an opportunity to expand global connections and learn from international peers navigating similar challenges.
To mark the commencement of their membership, NIMO and Belfast Harbour will attend the Valencia PIN plenary in October, which will focus on strategy, port resilience and the Valencia Digital Summit’s Port Entrepreneurship and International Congress.
