A project based in the Dutch provinces of Zeeland and Limburg is helping the local transport and logistics sector embrace new ideas, technologies and processes, while giving young people a chance to accelerate their career prospects. Through Dare2Share, students and graduates undertake assignments to help local firms find ways to work more efficiently and reduce costs. Participating firms and young professionals share their knowledge in project master classes and workshops.
- 29 July 2020
Through cooperation we activate the logistics sector to motion and innovation.
Dare2Share matches trainees and graduates to appropriate transport and logistic SMEs. The students conduct research at the company for four days a week under the supervision of a young professional employee. Transport and logistics is an important sector for the participating regions and in the Netherlands more generally, but collaboration between competing firms is rare. Dare2Share aims to change that and contribute to making the sector a top player internationally.
Pooling talent
To encourage collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas, Dare2Share runs collaborative forums called Talent Innovation Pools (TIPs). In Limburg, 10 firms and 12 students have come together in two TIPs, exploring issues relevant to the sector, including social innovation, use of big data and e-commerce. In Zeeland, 15 firms and 10 students have so far taken part in three editions. Specific themes were covered in the first two TIPs – blockchain management and train connections between Vlissingen, Oost and Duisburg in Germany. The third edition covers a variety of subjects.
Many student assignments have delivered valuable insights for participating companies. For example, one student examined the potential impact of Brexit on a local transport company. Her research focused on the pros and cons of setting up a customs department or to outsource requirements. Two other students are working with a transport and logistics company on big data issues. They are carrying out an inventory on which data is being collected, and aim to provide an overview on how such information can be profitable for the firm.
In another collaboration, a student is providing a transport company with an overview of the costs of using different delivery routes. The resulting report will help this business to plan operations more efficiently, save time and reduce fuel costs.
Driving change
Dare2Share is helping to change business practices and deliver innovation. During the first TIP in Limburg, two logistics firms cooperated in a strategy for delivering goods to the UK. Meanwhile, two plenary sessions for professionals and students were organised on the theme of big data, and the use of the tool Power BI for the presentation of data as visual management information for staff.
As a result of combining a visit to the firm and the master classes/workshops on big data, an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience has been achieved relating to the use of data by specific groups. Methods for presenting and analysing the data within the company were explored.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Dare2Share” is EUR 2 010 897, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 703 807 through the “South Netherlands” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Promoting innovation”.