On 4 and 5 November, the Interreg Euro-MED projects BLUE ECOSYSTEM and Dialogue4Innovation marked an important milestone at ECOMONDO, the international innovation fair held in Rimini, Italy. The events brought together regional representatives, blue economy and innovation stakeholders and initiatives connected to the EU Mission Ocean and Waters, providing an opportunity to showcase innovative solutions, exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation across the Mediterranean.
BLUE ECOSYSTEM SHOWCASES REGIONAL EXPERIENCES AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
As the project approaches its end by December 2026, BLUE ECOSYSTEM organised a series of talks to present the results of its work, highlight the experiences of participating regions and showcase innovative solutions developed and supported throughout the project.
The programme opened with the session “Challenges and opportunities”, introduced by Emilia-Romagna Region (ERR), which presented the project’s approach to identifying the main challenges and opportunities facing the Mediterranean blue economy. The session also featured the challenges and opportunities matrix developed by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), alongside experiences and lessons learned from the regional TRAIN Labs.
A particularly important milestone in the project’s journey was the BLUE ECOMATCH event, held in Marseille on 29 April. The initiative brought together 18 innovative solutions selected from more than 100 acceleration initiatives. By connecting innovators with potential partners, businesses and relevant stakeholders, BLUE ECOMATCH helped identify opportunities for collaboration, further development and the transfer of solutions across Mediterranean territories.
The CPMR Intermediterranean Commission (CPMR-IMC) highlighted the role of maritime regions in strengthening blue innovation ecosystems. Regions act as ecosystem builders, connectors and enablers, bringing together businesses, research organisations, public authorities and civil society to ensure that innovation responds to territorial needs. Through initiatives such as the TRAIN Labs, they facilitate stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange and cooperation, while transnational networks help transfer innovative solutions across territories.
The programme continued with a series of thematic showcases presenting innovative solutions and experiences across four key areas of the blue economy:
- Sustainable Marine Bio-resources: This session focused on innovative approaches to aquaculture, fisheries and the sustainable use of marine resources. Among the solutions presented was CalX, developed by a French start-up from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. This innovative marine concrete aims to contribute to biodiversity restoration by integrating ecological considerations into marine infrastructure. It also featured AZA4ICE and 2B-Blue Interreg Euro-MED projects, alongside an innovative solution from the Attica region in Greece: Glafcos Marine, an autonomous robotic platform for ecofriendly ship hull cleaning, tackling biofouling and its impact on fuel use, emissions, and invasive species.
- Offshore Marine Energy: The session showcased innovative technologies supporting the development of renewable energy and the decarbonisation of maritime and coastal activities. Among the solutions presented was SolarInBlue, an innovative floating solar technology specifically designed for offshore conditions. Its high-buoyancy system allows it to withstand extreme waves while keeping the panels close to sea level, improving durability and efficiency. Its modular design also offers potential for large-scale deployment.
- Marine Pollution, Water and Waste Management: it presented innovative solutions addressing water management challenges, marine pollution and the transition towards more circular approaches to resource use. Some of the innovative solutions presented were: NAIADS, an AI-powered simulation environment designed to integrate different water-related data sources into a centralised platform for integrated water resource management. It enables public authorities, local governments and private-sector stakeholders to simulate different management scenarios and identify actions that can save water, time and costs, while reducing reliance on desalination. VICE VERSA, focusing on recovering valuable resources from fish-processing wastewater. By extracting valuable compounds and dehydrating sludge for reuse as organic fertiliser, the solution aims to reduce waste disposal challenges and promote circular resource management in the fisheries sector.
- Sustainable Coastal Tourism: showcasing innovative approaches to making coastal tourism more sustainable and supporting the transition towards a regenerative blue economy. One of the solutions presented was ZATIS, an innovative digital platform developed in Zadar County, Croatia. The system integrates real-time tourism data to monitor visitor flows, tourist behaviour and environmental impacts. By providing destination managers and relevant stakeholders with a centralised information system, ZATIS supports more coordinated, evidence-based decision-making, contributing to sustainable tourism management and more balanced regional development.
dialogue4innovation holds its final tiplAB ON WATER RESILIENCE
ECOMONDO also hosted the final TIPLab of the Interreg Euro-MED project Dialogue4Innovation, providing a space to advance discussions on the Joint Policy Position on Water Resilience.
The session addressed the importance of strengthening Mediterranean cooperation on water resilience, bringing regional perspectives and policy priorities into the discussion. It contributed to the project’s work towards a shared approach to addressing water-related challenges across the Mediterranean.
THE EU MISSION OCEAN AND WATERTS: TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
The programme also included “Mission Ocean and Waters in Action: Regionalisation of a Regenerative Blue Economy for the Mediterranean”, highlighting the contribution of regional cooperation and innovation to the objectives of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters.
The discussions underlined the importance of translating European ambitions into concrete territorial action, mobilising regional stakeholders and strengthening the links between innovation, policy and implementation.
Through their presence at ECOMONDO, BLUE ECOSYSTEM and Dialogue4Innovation reinforced the importance of Mediterranean cooperation in addressing shared challenges and accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and innovative blue economy.
WHAT’S COMING NEXT?
B2Match event: A virtual matchmaking initiative aiming to connect Mediterranean Blue Economy innovators, enterprises, research organisations, laboratories, start‑ups and public stakeholders through a dedicated B2B platform, fostering new collaborations, partnerships and project opportunities across the region.
The activity is structured in two phases: a webinar on 3 December 2026 and a full matchmaking session on 14–15 December 2026, both hosted on the B2Match environment and integrated within the broader BlueMissionMed Community, the collaborative space developed under the Mission Ocean and BLUEMISSIONMED project.
Stay tuned to BLUE ECOSYSTEM social media for real-time updates (LinkedIn or website).
For further information about the project, please contact jordi.juarez@crpm.org
