The third BALTIC-FIT Innovation Workshop, organised by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, began on 4 November 2026 in Marstrand, Sweden. The two-day event brings together representatives from industry, ports, public authorities, digital service providers and research organisations under the theme “Digital Coordination for Decarbonised and Resilient Baltic Sea Logistics.”
The workshop welcomed 45 participants on its first day, which opened with an introduction by Mikael Lind (RISE). Key highlights included presentations by Per Thöresson, former Swedish Ambassador and senior diplomat, and Henning Schleyerbach, Chair of the Virtual Watch Tower (VWT) and former COO of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA). They shared perspectives on the future of global trade and the role of digital collaboration in making maritime logistics more sustainable.
A key part of the workshop is a series of three interactive breakout sessions designed to turn real industry challenges into practical tasks for the Spring 2027 Hackathon, planned as part of the next BALTIC-FIT Summer School. During the first session, “Problem Discovery Clinics,” participants worked in groups to identify and validate challenges in maritime logistics, explore user needs and consider available data. The day concluded with a gallery walk, where participants shared their findings and exchanged feedback.
The work will continue on 5 November with two further breakout sessions, “Hackathon Suitability Labs” and “Draft the Hackathon Challenge Briefs.” Participants will assess potential solutions, explore relevant technologies and partnerships, and develop specific challenges for the hackathon.
By the end of the workshop, the aim is to select three to five promising challenges and identify the organisations and partners who can take them forward, laying the groundwork for collaborative innovation during the BALTIC-FIT Summer School in spring 2027.
