Innovating in the port requires knowing it up close. With that in mind, on the afternoon of 20 October, coinciding with the PEIC Resilience Forum, Opentop organised a technical boat tour of the Port of Valencia for the guests and speakers of PEIC 2026, the international reference congress in port entrepreneurship and innovation, held on 21 October.
The tour was led by Juan Manuel Díez, Head of Innovation at the Port Authority of Valencia, who guided participants by boat through the port facilities, explaining first-hand how they operate, their infrastructure, and the challenges facing a world-class port.
A different view of the port
Seeing the port from the water offers a perspective that no conference room can provide. During the tour, attendees were able to observe the port’s day-to-day activity and gain a better understanding of the scale and complexity of port operations, key context for understanding where and how innovation can add value.
For many participants, coming from different countries and ecosystems, it was also an opportunity to experience the Port of Valencia first-hand and exchange impressions in a more relaxed, informal setting.
Connecting people, ideas and the port
The technical visit reflects the spirit of PEIC: not only to discuss the future of ports, but to bring startups, experts, investors and industry professionals closer to the reality of the port environment. Because the best ideas emerge when you truly understand the problem you are trying to solve.
At Opentop, we would like to thank the Port Authority of Valencia, and especially Juan Manuel Díez, for their involvement, as well as all the guests and speakers who joined us on this experience.