Now in its 6th edition, the Valenciaport Hackathon is a leading international hackathon in the port-logistics sector.
Open call for international startups until May, 25th to tackle challenges proposed by Hitachi Energy, Comité de Innovación Cluster de Valenciaport and VPI Logística.
9,000 euros in prizes: €6,000 first prize of the 6th edition and €3,000 second prize awarded by the Fundación Juan Arizo Serrulla.
Opentop, the innovation hub of Valenciaport, has launched the open call for international startups to participate in the 6th edition of the Valenciaport Hackathon. Registrations are open until May 25th at opentop.es to take part in this on-site event to be held on 30 June and 1 July at the Edificio del Reloj of the Port of Valencia (Spain).
The benchmark Hackathon in the Port Sector
In its 6th edition, the hackathon adopts a format exclusively for startups, scale-ups and technology SMEs with innovative technology focused on the solutions proposed during the Hackathon. Following this call, 9 startups will be selected (3 per challenge) to take part in an intensive two-day co-creation dynamic alongside the challenger companies and expert mentors.
Challenges of this edition
The three challenges of this edition have been defined by challenger companies and address highly relevant issues:
Challenge 1: Energy Management System (proposed by Hitachi Energy)
Development of a multi-vector EMS (Energy Management System) for the port sector that integrates renewable energy sources, storage and electrical loads (OPS, reefers, electric vehicles, etc.), optimising energy consumption and estimating avoided emissions to support operational planning.
Challenge 2: Response to Disruptions (proposed by the Comité de Innovación Cluster de Valenciaport)
Development of an AI-powered monitoring and response platform to anticipate and manage potential disruptions at the Port of Valencia (weather events, energy failures, cyberattacks, congestion, etc.), fostering collaboration among all stakeholders in the cluster.
Challenge 3: Smart Access and Mobility at the ZAL (proposed by VPI Logística)
Define an access management, security and mobility model for the ZAL of the Port of Valencia, incorporating digital solutions to improve flow monitoring and incident detection in an urban logistics environment.
All challenges are further detailed on the Opentop website for the reference of interested startups.
Prizes
After two intensive days of work and open innovation, the grand final will feature project presentations before a specialized and independent jury. The following prizes will be awarded:
€6,000 first prize of the 6th edition of the Valenciaport Hackathon.
€3,000 prize awarded by the Fundación Juan Arizo Serrulla (FJAS).
Winners will also receive direct access as speakers to the Port Entrepreneurship International Congress (PEIC), organised by Opentop and taking place in October.
Target Profile and Registration
The call is open to legally incorporated startups, scale-ups and technology SMEs with a functional and innovative product or MVP and demonstrable market potential.
The registration deadline is open until May 25th 2026 via the online form available at opentop.es. For any further queries: hello@opentop.es.
Statements
Juan Manuel Díez. Head of Innovation, Port Authority of Valencia
“This new edition of the Valenciaport Hackathon represents a step forward in our commitment to open innovation. The new format is designed to attract startups with cutting-edge technology and to facilitate the testing and validation process, leveraging the advantages offered by the Valenciaport Sandbox as an enabled space for testing solutions in a real port environment.
The response from the port community has been very positive: ports need to accelerate testing and pilot cycles, and this new Hackathon model goes in that direction. Moving swiftly from idea to pilot is precisely what port innovations require, and this new format is a tool to achieve it.”
Antonio Torregrosa. Managing director, Fundación Valenciaport
“It is very rewarding to see how the Valenciaport Hackathon, now in its 6th edition, continues to grow and expand its international reach. It is becoming a key event in the open innovation and entrepreneurship calendar of the port-logistics sector.
This year, there is a first prize of €6,000 and a second prize of €3,000 supported by the Fundación Juan Arizo Serrulla, whom we thank for their support. Both prizes will recognize the best solutions and will be awarded by a prestigious international jury. We want to help the winning startups have the resources they need to keep developing the ideas born at this Hackathon.”
Port Community Participation
The 6th Valenciaport Hackathon for Startups is made possible thanks to the commitment of many. The event is organised by Opentop, the innovation hub of the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia, driven by Fundación Valenciaport and the Port Authority of Valencia. The challenges have been proposed by Hitachi Energy, Comité de Innovación Cluster de Valenciaport and VPI Logística. The €3,000 prize is supported by the Fundación Juan Arizo Serrulla.
The event is backed by Asociación Naviera Valenciana (ANV), APMT, Boluda, Infoport, Nealis Innovation Hub and The Whiteam Technology Services as supporters and is driven within the innovation ecosystem alongside Ideas UPV, Invest in Valencia, Startup Valencia and Valencia Innovation Capital.
The organizing partners are Innovay acción, with the financial support of the Agència Valenciana de la Innovació (AVI), within the framework of the Complementary Actions Programme for the Promotion and Strengthening of Innovation, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana 2024–2026.
To all of them, thank you: without theircommitment, none of this would be possible.
About Opentop
Opentop is the Innovation Hub of Valenciaport. This initiative, led by Fundación Valenciaport with the support of the Port Authority of Valencia, aims to bring open innovation closer to companies and entities operating at the three ports managed by the APV (Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia), enhancing their competitiveness.
Press Contacts
Opentop: hortiz@fundacion.valenciaport.com
