Building a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the blue economy : the role of collaborative innovation

Abstract

This study characterises a portfolio of sustainability innovations implemented in maritime and marine industries and investigates the role of collaboration in building a sustainable innovation ecosystem in the blue economy. It draws from data of EU-funded projects implemented in maritime and marine sectors in the Western Mediterranean (Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Malta) in the period 2015-2024. The findings indicate that universities and public entities were among the most prominent actors involved in collaborations aimed at implementing initiatives towards environmental and social sustainability. However, partnerships were also established with international not-for profits and research and technology organisations. Collaborations were mostly in fisheries and aquaculture to establish digital platforms and facilitate data exchange on sustainable fisheries and on renewable energy systems integration. Innovations in ICTs and robotics were deployed in emerging sectors, such as deep-sea mining exploration, and the use of sensor technology for advanced ocean monitoring and prediction systems. Innovations in maritime spatial planning and ecosystem services aimed to implement new methodologies and tools for managing natural resources and marine protected areas or testing new business models e.g., in fishing tourism. The findings are relevant for policy and for integrated resource management, suggesting the need for further measures supporting entrepreneurship, technology transfer and capacity building. The study is based on work published in: Pace, L. A., & Morales-Caselles, C. (2024). Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in Blue Economy Sectors: Pathways Toward Specialization in Island Territories of the Western Mediterranean Basin. In Handbook of Sustainable Blue Economy (pp. 1-25). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.