Tech solutions for growth of Freeport

Greener, cleaner, slicker port to market operations are within touching distance, according to LJMU’s Professor Trung Thanh Nguyen.

The expert in transport logistics believes Liverpool’s innovation culture can supercharge a path to much more efficient transport of cargo via the Port of Liverpool, 88% of which travels on to other parts of the UK.

And he says the translation of research data into real world solutions has never been better thanks to world-class partnership between academia, industry and government.

Professor Thanh was speaking at the Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone Showcase in the city on Tuesday, which showed how ideas are being converted into impact.

World-class environment

Tim Games LCR’s chief of Innovation and Delivery explained that investors and entrepreneurs were increasingly choosing the city-region for its world-class environment of innovation and collaboration.

“It’s not just about great science and development but also making it help the economy and our populations. Yes, we have great universities and great ideas but putting them together is the key to our future.”

Liverpool is increasingly seen as a model of industry, academia and government working together and one of only three places in UK to boast an Innovation Zone + a Freeport. The Freeport was established in 2023 and the recently-won IZ is set to unlock £800m and create 8,000 jobs

Key areas are life sciences, digital technology and maritime, logistics and net zero – where LJMU has academic strengths as the first maritime college founded in the country.

Optimise rail and road flow

Partnering with LCR Freeport and industry, LJMU's Global Centre for Maritime Innovation is using technology to model the most efficient movement of freight and goods in and out of the Freeport to cut pollution, congestion on road and rail and save millions in supply chain costs.

The Freight Corridor project allied to a doctoral programme centred on port innovation aims to green up logistics without spending millions on more new roads and railways.

Professor Thanh added: “Liverpool is unique in this type of collaboration between R&D, enterprise, legislators and the community.”

The Freight Corridor project is supported by Peel Ports, LCR Freeport, Mersey Maritime, the Connected places Catapult, Liverpool Combined Authority, Wirral Council, Sefton Council, Liverpool City Council and St Helens Council.