Ports in transition: “After Europe, it's now up to the market to contribute” (B. Siemons, Rotterdam Port)

“Europe has helped us tremendously by kick-starting the innovations as part of the 'Magpie' and 'Pioneers' projects. Now, it is up to the market to play its part and transform these innovations in sustainable business models to contribute to the transition of ports,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port Authority of Rotterdam, during the conference ‘Ports in Transition’ held in Rotterdam on 17 September 2026.

Five years after their launch, the EU-funded Horizon 2020 projects 'Magpie', coordinated by the Port of Rotterdam, and 'Pioneers', coordinated by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, presented their final learnings, introducing their demonstrators, free digital tools, and Masterplan for European green ports.

The CEOs of the two ports also insisted on the importance of cooperation to…