Under the Turkish Coordination of the CMA in 2021, a regional event  on Blue Entrepreneurship was organised to identify research and innovation (R&I) needs to support coastal tourism, maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture.

The event was a good opportunity to exchange views and suggestions for joint actions between researchers and operators in the blue economy across, and beyond, the Black Sea region thanks to the participation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) leaders in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic Seas.

A number of essential areas were identified to improve cooperation between regional research and innovation as well as economic operators, such as boosting a fully innovative and sustainable blue economy in the Black Sea. 

Areas where innovation is essential to strengthen the blue economy in the Black Sea were discussed and agreed. They include:

1. Improved knowledge on the marine environment and its multi-stressors as a basis for a sound risks management for a sustainable development of maritime activities across the sea basin in particular for tourism and aquaculture;
2. Greening of the blue economy sectors by fully adopting circular models, and a strong focus on zero-emission and pollution along the logistic and value chain of all sectors with a focus on maritime transport;
3. Improved role of data-sharing and full uptake of innovation potentials offered by the digitalisation of the blue economy as a whole (business activities, administrative services, etc.) for maritime transport, port management or tourism;
4. Deployment, testing and uptake of sustainable and innovative business models for traditional and emerging sectors, through greater technical innovation and managerial capacity;
5. Full recognition and support of the pivotal role played by maritime clusters to gather business, researchers, investors and accelerate the uptake of innovative and sustainable solutions;
6. Technical blue skills and managerial capabilities are key enablers for business innovation

Towards this direction there is an opportunity for the Black Sea SMEs working in BE sectors, through the opened BE call offered by the Horizon 2020 project DIGICIRC, a project aiming at promoting digital innovation in circular economy.

The call is looking for SMEs that are able to propose innovative solutions, using digital tools and creating circular value chain and will provide an acceleration programme and a financial support per single SME.

We think that this is a great opportunity for regional collaboration on blue economy entrepreneurship so do not hesitate to contact us for any relevant idea to discuss this further through the BSVKC Blue Economy Community and/or contact the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism National Hubs to support you on identifying relevant partners !