The Director of Institutional Relations at Port de Barcelona, Ingrid Boqué, led several sessions on the use of technology in the sector at the IAPH World Ports Conference 2026.
The President of Port de Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell, presented Port de Barcelona's technological strategy and success stories to international port representatives in London.
November 06, 2026
Ingrid Boqué, Director of Institutional Relations at Port de Barcelona, speaking at the IAPH World Ports Conference 2026.
This week in London, Port de Barcelona reinforced its international position in port digitalization and innovation, actively participating in discussions on artificial intelligence, data exchange, cybersecurity, and new technologies held during the annual meeting of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum.
Firstly, the technical sessions, which preceded the IAPH World Ports Conference, addressed key aspects of port relations and the latest technological advancements, led by Ingrid Boqué, Director of Institutional Relations at Port de Barcelona and Chair of the IAPH Data Collaboration technical committee. This committee is one of the key IAPH bodies for coordinating data exchange between ports and different maritime and port sector stakeholders to improve efficiency and security.
This year, four sessions moderated by Ingrid Boqué were held, dedicated to current topics such as the application of AI in the port sector – in coordination with ChainPORT – data exchange for optimizing port calls, cybersecurity, and supply chain resilience in ports.
All these discussions, with presentations of practical cases and working sessions, included the participation of representatives from other ports and public bodies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the World Bank. Together, they served as a preview to the IAPH World Ports Conference, where the Director of Institutional Relations at Port de Barcelona moderated the panel discussion "Data Harmonisation for Port Call Optimisation and Supply Chain Resilience," with the participation of eleven international experts from the maritime and port sector.
During the IAPH general assembly, Ingrid Boqué presented the work carried out by the Data Collaboration Committee and the workstreams for 2027, and called for greater participation from ports in the different committees and working groups to accelerate the digital transformation of the sector and maximize the benefits of the advancements achieved within the IAPH.
Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum
At the same time, José Alberto Carbonell spoke on Wednesday at the Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum, organized in London by Ningbo Zhoushan Port and Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group, which brought together key industry players involved in promoting relations between Chinese and European ports.
Carbonell presented Port de Barcelona's strategy for incorporating technologies linked to competitiveness, innovation, and security, such as artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, and collaborative data exchange tools. His intervention also showcased success stories such as PORTIC, the uses of the new 5G network, and the commitment to transform Port de Barcelona into a testing environment for new solutions through BlueTechPort and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation.
"At Port de Barcelona, AI, digitalization, cybersecurity, and connectivity are not isolated initiatives. Together, they form a practical toolkit for building a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable port. The port of the future will not only transport goods. It will turn data into decisions," stated José Alberto Carbonell.
