In the current economic climate, businesses face change and challenges on a daily basis. Dealing with a rapidly expanding marketplace (globalization), and increasing competition, diversity among consumers, and availability to new forms of technology requires creativity and innovation. But, when strategizing during strategic planning, and when designing new products and services, how can one know what innovations are already there? The answer has been provided for inland waterways through an innovative solution – a digital information source called, imaginatively, the Innovation Database – www.naiades.info/innovations.
Financed by the European Commission and implemented within the framework of the PLATINA project, the Innovation Database for Inland Waterway Transport aims to encourage sharing of innovation throughout Europe. Information on innovative projects is easily accessible with just a few mouse clicks. The database will bring innovation owners and innovation users closer together and consequently speed up developments in inland navigation.
By implementing innovation, inland navigation can continue to improve its usability and customer satisfaction focus, making sure it is seen as a preferred partner in intermodal transport. However, in order to continue this strategy, an optimal transfer of know how into practice is required. This is why the Innovation Database has been created.
The online database is based on a Wiki-approach and enables users to easily look for existing innovations and to insert their own entries with minimal effort. Currently the database is already populated with some selected innovations and it will be enlarged gradually in the course of time. All entries follow the same structure and are arranged according to functional groups. They comprise both research projects and practical examples from industry. Presently there are innovations for, amongst others, ship design in general, hull structure, equipment for cargo and crew, machinery and ship systems and on improvements in economic, environmental and logistics performances, respectively. Comments and contributions are welcome and can be entered online.

≡ PLATINA website
≡ Innovation Database