Concession Agreements (CAs) in the port sector are used by the State, port authorities and other port stakeholders to create win-win situations for the parties involved. They enable ports to attract suitable private investors with knowledge and experience in the field, as well as to mobilise sufficient funds from the private sector in order to finance necessary investments in port infra- and superstructure and the provision of high quality port services with specific quantitative and qualitative characteristics. More generally, CAs create a framework which provides the means to respond to the operational needs and development plans of ports and to enhance their future development prospects. At the same time, it is imperative to address the negative externalities from the operation and development of ports, which makes it necessary to take into account economic, social and environmental factors in every key choice and decision. Furthermore, it is essential to promote solutions for sustainable port organisation and production, as well as to ensure requirements for sustainable port development.It is, therefore, necessary to incorporate in Concession Agreements specific terms in order to establish a framework for a sustainable business model, sustainable operation and development of ports and/or port services provided and to guarantee, to the extent possible, the achievement of these multiple, parallel objectives.

The proposed research project aims to systematically examine, analyse and highlight the critical factors that should be taken into account to this end, in line with the three pillars of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental), as well as their interaction, as a necessary methodology to support decision-making. Based on this methodology, the project further aspires to develop an innovative model framework for the drafting of innovative Concession Agreements (iCAs) that will meet the above objective. The model will allow the creation of a highly adaptable tool which, despite the major differences between ports/port services and the particularities of each case, can be used to dynamically select, prioritise and adequately adjust provisions in these very complex agreements. In this context, the project will also identify relevant innovative instrumental solutions and best practices concerning information management and information governance, as this is of crucial importance for all parties/stakeholders involved in the process of a port concession agreement.

For the purposes of the project, the theoretical analysis will be complemented by the documentation and evaluation of international and national experience in this field. The results will be tested in a case study of a Greek port, to be selected as appropriate for the abovementioned objectives. The results of the project are expected to make an important contribution to the academic discussion on sustainable operation and development of ports, as well as on the formulation of Innovative Concession Agreements in Greece and globally. In addition, it is expected that they will be used by both public and private stakeholders for the negotiation, formulation and monitoring of Concession Agreements on a scientifically-founded, elaborate, sound and rational basis.