Have you ever wanted to take part in a hands-on learning format focused on shaping the ports of the future – together with like-minded and driven port professionals?
Three IAPH member ports have a unique opportunity to do so, by securing one of the three available wild cards for the annual chainPORT Academy, hosted by the chainPORT initiative.
Founded by the Hamburg Port Authority and the Port of Los Angeles in 2016, chainPORT is supported by a global network of leading ports, including Antwerp-Bruges, Barcelona, Busan, Gothenburg, Montreal, Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tanger Med. Many IAPH members will already be familiar with chainPORT through the joint Port Call Optimization Study published in 2024.
The chainPORT Academy is a 2–3 day, in-person working format, designed primarily for the operational level of chainPORT member ports. IAPH and chainPORT have decided to open the 2026 edition exclusively to three IAPH member ports for the upcoming academy, which will take place from 18–20 May at the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden. (One wild card equals a one-person participation.)
During the Academy, port professionals from areas such as IT, engineering, R&D, innovation, strategy, and digitalisation collaborate in focused workshops. Together, they work on concrete questions and challenges relevant to their fields. The goal is to approach shared challenges with an open mindset and to develop practical, transferable results and approaches that participants can apply directly in their home organizations.
The Academy fosters a trust-based, open exchange, enabling participants to learn hands-on from peers who face similar challenges in different ports, contexts, and environments. In addition to strengthening professional competencies, the chainPORT Academy offers exclusive networking opportunities within a focused expert setting.
What to expect: Over recent years, the chainPORT Academies have increasingly focused on the practical implementation of artificial intelligence within port authorities.
This year’s chainPORT Academy continues this journey and places its focus on a crucial yet often underdefined aspect of AI implementation: defining meaningful KPIs and measuring the return on investment (ROI) of AI projects.
Through a series of interactive workshops, port experts will collaboratively explore how to develop relevant and robust KPIs for AI initiatives, and how to evaluate AI project performance using realistic and practical assessment frameworks.
The objective is not to require ready-made datasets. Instead, the Academy aims to foster reflection, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of AI project management practices within port authorities. A detailed agenda outlining the full workshop programme will be made available shortly.
Who can apply: The call is open to port experts from IAPH regular members working in digitalization, IT, innovation, research and development, or other specialized departments, who have experience in (AI) project management.
Having an AI project already in place is not mandatory. Applications are welcome from organizations at any stage, from early proof-of-concept initiatives to fully operational AI solutions.
When and where: 18-20 May at the Port of Gothenburg in Sweden
How to apply: Simply fill out the application form and share your motivation for joining the chainPORT Academy here. The submission deadline is 28 March. Selected wild card recipients will be informed by 2 April 2026.
Please note that travel and accommodation costs must be covered by the joining member ports themselves and cannot be sponsored by IAPH or chainPORT.
Should you have any questions regarding the application process or the chainPORT Academy in general, please don’t hesitate to contact Marie Prien (International Networks Coordinator, HPA): [email protected]
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