Following the announcement of Mersey Maritime’s ‘Innovating Maritime’ project earlier this week, Mersey Maritime will be offering further support for maritime innovation through the Port City Innovation Hub.
The Port City Innovation Hub (PCIH) is an innovation support programme for maritime and related industries specifically in the Liverpool City Region. The programme is being led by Wirral Council and jointly funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The £1.9m project seeks to accelerate innovation and growth within the region’s maritime economy and the PCiH delivery partners include Mersey Maritime, The University of Liverpool, Wirral Chamber of Commerce, and international innovation consultancy Rainmaking Innovations.
PCiH is aimed at SMEs and start-ups in any business sector wanting to grow and scale their business by introducing new products, services, or processes that could be used in the maritime industry.
Chris Shirling-Rooke, CEO of Mersey Maritime said: “We are delighted that maritime innovation is at the forefront of the local agenda, as it should be. Mersey Maritime has been championing the maritime industry both locally and nationally for the last 20 years, now is the time to re-establish our position as a leading maritime city – creating jobs, driving innovation and cutting-edge technology, as well as addressing some of the global decarbonisation and sustainability challenges”.
Cllr Tony Jones, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economic, Regeneration and Development Committee, commented: “Port City innovation Hub will provide much-needed support for our maritime sector, which is an essential part of this region’s economy. By bringing together businesses, industry expertise and world-class resources, it will allow dynamic new ideas, services and products to grow and flourish. This will create a welcome boost for the sector, offering economic growth, job creation and re-affirming Wirral as a place of innovation.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The River Mersey and our docks have been the lifeblood of our region’s fortunes for centuries. As a western-facing port, our maritime economy remains a key local industry – worth around £4.2bn today.
“We’ve invested almost £700,000 in the Port City innovation Hub to help nurture the next generation of successful maritime businesses – and all the jobs and growth that they will create. Alongside the Maritime Knowledge Hub, it will help to ensure that our maritime sector doesn’t just remain strong, but becomes even stronger.”
More information about Port City Innovation Hub and its delivery partners can be found here: www.portcity.uk. Suzanne Fulton is the Mersey Maritime Project Lead – contact Suzanne to find out more pcih@merseymaritime.co.uk
