Lufthansa Cargo has announced a new focus on technology startups to accelerate digital innovation alongside US-based RocketSpace. The move makes Lufthansa’s logistic division the first freight airline globally to participate in the new ‘Logistics Tech Accelerator’ programme. RocketSpace has been helping tech startups and corporate innovation professionals bring the future to market since 2011.
As a part of the programme, Lufthansa Cargo will educate startups on the business objectives of the industry, closely co-operate with selected companies and incubate ideas for a pilot programme with the aim of creating a go-to-market solution.
In addition to startups, the Logistics Tech Accelerator will use the unique model of drawing from the diverse expertise of multiple corporate participants alongside Lufthansa Cargo, including founding corporate member Kaleido.
“We are not only fully supporting innovation and digitisation in our own company, we want to drive our industry forward as a whole,” said Monika Wiederhold, vice president product management & innovation at Lufthansa Cargo.
“We are already offering our customers worldwide innovative eServices. Nonetheless, we see great potential for increased digitisation and services in the entire air cargo supply chain. We are keen to explore new ways together with young, highly-qualified experts from the start-up scene”, she added.
“Global corporations like Lufthansa Cargo working hand-in-hand with disruptive startups is a prime example of how an industry can come together to fuel open innovation”, said Duncan Logan, founder and CEO of RocketSpace.
“The Logistics Tech Accelerator will not only create cross-industry collaboration, but also create a center of innovation excellence to empower participants to accelerate with purpose and achieve measurable results,” he added.
RocketSpace has already been working with Lufthansa’s Berlin based Innovation Hub. “We are proud of extending the cooperation to the logistics sector now”, Wiederhold said.
Logistics-focused startups can apply to the program now through 12 May. To learn more about the programme, visit the Logistics Tech Accelerator.
