The partners of the Interreg Euro-MED BLUE ECOSYSTEM project met in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on October 21 and 22 to address the final activities of the project, ending by June 2026.
During the meeting, discussions focused on two main activities: The setting of the TRAIN Labs in the project regions (Cyprus, Zadar County-Croatia, Occitanie Région Sud, Albania, Attica-Greece, Emilia-Romagna, Balearic Islands and Alentejo) and the BLUE ECOMATCH Programme.
- TRAIN Labs
After jointly defining and co-designing the methodology to be followed (see HERE), a “TRAIN Lab” is being set up in each pilot region to support the adoption and scaling up of innovative solutions in the blue economy sectors. This is being carried out in coherence with regional action plans on the blue economy and RIS3 strategies.
The TRAIN Labs are taking several formats—collective technical workshops, study visits, and keynote conferences—but all share the same goal: to identify transformative innovation solutions addressing complex territorial challenges.
So far, 98 solutions have been received. The table below shows the profile of the applicants and the challenges addressed. A specific article about the TRAIN Labs will be available soon.
- Profile of applicants: 2 public authorities, 8 enterprise and SMEs, 10 higher education and research organisations, 1 education/training center and school, 1 sectoral agency, 4 business support organisation
- Challenges: Blue bioeconomy, Marine manufacture, Coastal protection and sustainable tourism
- Profile of applicants: 10 enterprise and SMEs, 3 higher education and research center, 4 interest group including NGOs (3 solutions from the same NGO)
- Challenges: Bioeconomy-Agrofood, Environment, Digital transformation, Public health, Energy, Social innovation
- Profile of applicants: 1 public authority, 1 interest group, 1 higher education and research organisation, 3 enterprise and SMEs
- Challenges: Maritime and coastal infrastructure, Pollution and waste management, Sustainable tourism
- Profile of applicants: 2 interest groups including NGOs, 3 higher education and research organisations, 3 enterprise and SMEs, 5 other (individuals)
- Challenges: Sustainable tourism, Pollution and waste management, Marine resource management
- Profile of applicants: 7 enterprise and SMEs, 1 public authority, 1 research organisation, 1 association/NGO
- Challenges: Water management in port areas
- Profile of applicants: 4 enterprise and SMEs, 3 interest group including NGOs
- Challenges: Fishing, Renewable energy, Sustainable tourism
- Profile of applicants: 2 public authorities, 5 enterprise and SMEs
- Challenges: Water scarcity & water management
- Ongoing
- BLUE ECOMATCH Programme
The event will be a transnational opportunity to connect the regional innovative solutions (developed within the TRAIN Labs). It will take place next April 28 and 29, 2026 in Marseille (France), with an expected participation of around 60 people (between 1 and 5 solutions per partner).
The first step is to clearly define the criteria that can be used to select the innovative solutions that will participate in the event (minimum level of English, challenge addressed…) and the objective of BLUE ECOMATCH, which could combine:
1- Scalability of solutions in other territories: The selected solutions will be presented during the event and explored for replication in other Mediterranean regions. This could include activities such as elevator pitches, a poster exhibition, and speed dating.
2- Improvement of solutions: The innovative ideas selected can be further developed and improved thanks to this transnational event, replicating the co-creation workshops methodology that has been used at regional level.
Another important aspect is to ensure that the innovative solutions can continue beyond the end of BLUE ECOSYSTEM and that further opportunities can arise from the ECOMATCH event. A dedicated session will be organised to support solution providers in exploring funding opportunities within European programmes and projects such as Mission Ocean, Dialogue4Innovation, the S3 Acceleration Programme and Horizon Europe. The Blue Task Force being jointly developed by Dialogue4Innovation, Blue Mission Med and BLUE ECOSYSTEM can be also a good way to that.
The session concluded with networking activities focused on funding opportunities and cross-project cooperation, including initiatives such as the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), the Ecomondo fair & BlueMissionMed matchmaking platform. The TASC RESTORE MED project, a new four-year initiative under the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” was also presented. It was launched in September 2025 and it has strong synergies with BLUE ECOSYSTEM, particularly in the areas of cross-Mediterranean collaboration, innovation acceleration, and stakeholder engagement in support of sustainable blue growth. Upcoming open calls will offer solution providers opportunities to join the mission through cascade funding and technical assistance.
Lastly, the calendar of potential events includes the ECOMONDO Fair in Rimini (4–7 November), the General Assembly of the CPMR in Barcelona (19–21 November) and the next project meeting in Athens, by January 2026.
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
