Collaborative Venturing in Action: Lessons from the Port of Rotterdam

CVN is evolving towards a stronger focus on Collaborative Venturing. This reflects a broader reality: corporate venturing and innovation are changing rapidly. The scale and complexity of today’s societal challenges—combined with increasing geopolitical uncertainty—make it clear that these issues can no longer be addressed in isolation. Collaboration within ecosystems is becoming essential.

We hosted our first event of the year together with the Port of Rotterdam, which plays an important role as an ecosystem builder in the port area. During this event, they first gave us an introduction to the port ecosystem: how it is structured, which players are involved, and why cross-ecosystem collaboration is essential for innovation and transition. This was followed by several practical sessions in which they will share concrete examples of how they build and facilitate collaboration, including what works well in practice and where they encounter challenges.

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The program included:

• A networking lunch
• Keynote – Collaborative Innovation in the Port of Rotterdam by Marjolein Hulsebosch (Senior Innovation Lead at Port of Rotterdam), offering further insight into how collaboration takes place within the port ecosystem.
• Keynote – How to start collaboration successfully – by Max Kranendijk and Derk Schneemann (Open Innovation Rabobank), sharing Rabobank Open Innovation’s approach and practical experiences in building successful collaborations
• Fieldlab Industrial Electrification (FLIE) Maarten Visser (sr. business manager, TNO), Iris Bergshoeff-Klingeman (innovation lead Platform Zero). In FLIE’s new pilot facility, companies are working on Power-to-X technologies, such as converting renewable electricity into hydrogen or industrial heat. Be inspired by industrial electrification solutions and the future potential of an electrified industry.
• DronePort Niels Kalshoven (program manager Port of Rotterdam), Arthur Dallau (Founder DronePort Rotterdam & DroneHorizon). DronePort is leading in autonomous and uncrewed systems innovation in operational environments across air, water, land and space. Learn more about practical solutions for multi-domain applications that contribute to improved safety, efficiency, and sustainability
• A guided tour of RDM Campus, a former shipbuilding and manufacturing site that has been transformed into an innovation campus where education, research, startups, and corporates work together on solutions for the future
• A boat tour through the port, offering a unique view of the ecosystem in action, with further insights into the port’s broader ecosystem