I3-4-BLUE-GROWTH
OPEN INNOVATION PROGRAMME
About the I3-4-BLUE-GROWTH OPEN INNOVATION PROGRAMME
I3-4 Blue Growth is a project leading blue economy innovation ecosystem players to share their knowledge, technology, build capacity and investment opportunities in two subsectors contributing to green innovation for the blue growth:
● sustainable seafood, aquaculture, and valorisation of blue resources;
● maritime renewable energy and decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
We are calling on technology providers: companies, clusters, business hubs, universities, research institutes and other innovation actors around Europe to join us in contributing solutions, sharing knowledge, and building fruitful partnerships with blue economy project promoters in Portugal, Spain, Poland, and Croatia.
WHY JOIN THE OPEN INNOVATION PROGRAMME?
- Collaborate and Expand Your Network:
• B2B matchmaking opportunities • The Hub for a Sustainable Blue Growth: online community for peer-to-peer support, advice and networking
- Unlock Access to Funding:
• Consortium building activities • Guidance to different EU funding instruments I3, InvestEU, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the Innovation Fund • Trainings on exploiting various forms or public, private and community-driven financing for interregional innovation initiatives
- Build Knowledge and Skills:
• Thematic workshops on blue economy best practices • Policy roundtables
- Enhance your Visibility:
• Put yourself on the map of businesses and innovation ecosystems in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Croatia, and beyond • Highlight your expertise and strengths as a partner organization in workshops, roundtables and roadshows
WHAT CHALLENGES WILL THE PROGRAMME TACKLE?
In a previous call, project partners identified Startups/SMEs actively involved or planning on becoming actively involved in the innovation ecosystems of the less developed regions targeted by the project namely, Azores, Central and Northern Portugal; Andalusia, Spain; Pomorskie, Poland; and Croatia. These project promoters are situated at points in blue economy value chains ripe for innovation. Straddling the sectors of the blue bioeconomy, marine renewable energies and maritime decarbonization, they all aim to push forward sustainable development in our target regions and are eager to build European partnerships.
• SUSTAINABLE, ACCESSIBLE, SAFE “BLUE FOOD”
• CIRCULARITY AND GREEN TRANSITION IN THE BLUE ECONOMY SECTOR
• MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY
• MARITIME DECARBONISATION
WHO CAN JOIN THE PROGRAMME?
Any entity throughout the European Union able to assist in the implementation of interregional innovation projects around the challenges listed above is invited to express interest in joining the program. We especially encourage technology providers from the regions represented by project partners. By filling out a brief registration form, you will give I3-4 Blue Growth partners an understanding of your organisation and your potential contributions to blue economy challenges, setting yourself up for targeted matchmaking and fruitful collaboration.
Application timeline:
