Crowley, in partnership with business accelerator Plug and Play at the University of North Florida, will kick off its first Innovation Expo Wednesday.
The event will include a panel discussion with Crowley and UNF experts on opportunities for innovation, venture investments and technology advancement in the logistics industry. During the panel, attendees will hear from experts on how innovations and investment can be leveraged to advance solutions that make industry better as well as helping reach sustainability goals such as decarbonization.
"This is really important, not just for us, but for all of Jacksonville," said John Claybrooks, Crowley's chief marketing officer. "We hope this will continue to advance Jacksonville as a transportation and logistics hub, as well as a hub for innovation."
The Expo will also feature 20 startup ventures pitching their innovations for the advanced energy, sustainability, supply chain and technology sectors. Claybrooks said the event will be more akin to a showcase of companies as opposed to a more competitive pitch format.
In addition, firms already working in partnership with Crowley in supply chain and sustainability technology will present their products.
The companies will be a mix of fresh startups and more seasoned companies further along in their development stages, Claybrooks said.
Claybrooks added that because of Crowley's expertise, and their partnerships with companies and organizations like JAX Chamber’s JAX Bridges program, companies will be able to receive guidance at the incubator to help them grow, regardless of if they are in their nascent stages or further along the innovative path.
Crowley’s partner Plug and Play is a global platform for innovation that connects startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Through its corporate innovation programs, it assists corporate partners in all stages of their innovation process, from learning to implementation of technology and connections with startup innovators.
The Expo will take place from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at UNF’s Adam W. Herbert University Center. The event is an outgrowth of Crowley’s growing partnership with UNF, which is home to the Crowley Center for Transportation and Logistics.
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