Innovation, training and twin transition in the Blue Economy (Open Call)

The call for proposals aims for SMEs in the blue economy sectors, especially in the Mediterranean region, to adopt processes and technologies to reinforce transformation into a greener and more digital economy in this sector.

It has a total budget of 750.000€, divided into five topics:

Ideation: focused on igniting the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset of entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs around challenges focused on the twin transition and increased SME resilience, and delivered in digital format.

Acceleration: focused on helping startups or SMEs bring to market new innovative products/services connected with digitalisation or green transition of the blue economy sector.

Open Innovation: challenge-based matchmaking of startups/ SMEs with innovative solutions and large corporations operating the blue economy sector that have innovation challenges related with digitalisation and green transition, with the objective of developing collaborative pilot projects.

Consulting: this topic has a broad range of activities to be funded. It includes consulting services associated with the green and digital transitions of businesses, innovation readiness, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) readiness (review and certification) of businesses, business continuity and risk management.

Training: this will encompass the delivery of tailor-made training services to the companies selected in the call. Each company will be awarded a specific grant which will enable them to choose from the bank of suppliers training expertise in the blue economy sector. Firms will be encouraged to find common training needs and opportunities with other selected beneficiaries and to have joint training sessions given by the suppliers.

For more detailed information about this call, visit the Funding & Tenders portal.

Deadline to submit proposals: 31 May 2023