Research and innovation

Horizon Europe's total budget for 2025 amounts to EUR 7.3 billion, following an increase of EUR 1.4 billion over the initial budget. Of this total, EUR 648 million are allocated to the five European Missions, including the mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, a specific axis of action in the marine and aquatic field. 

The Mission is specifically tailored to support the EU ambitious 2030 goals, which aim to safeguard and revitalise ecosystems and biodiversity, eliminate pollution, and achieve decarbonisation towards climate neutrality. Its scope of action focuses primarily on the EU oceanic, marine, and freshwater environments, and leverages digital and social enablers.  

These objectives are supported by cross-cutting enablers, including digital infrastructures, data-sharing frameworks and stakeholder engagement mechanisms, which are essential to translate research outcomes into operational and policy impact, in line with the European Strategy on Research and Technological Infrastructures launched in September 2025. 

This mission allocates more than EUR 108 million to calls directly oriented towards the blue economy, through projects focused on the restoration of marine ecosystems, ocean digitalisation (EU Digital Twin Ocean), the modernisation of fishing fleets, citizen science, and coastal territorial cooperation. 

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The Horizon Europe Work Programmes 2026–2027 sets out mission-oriented funding opportunities to address major societal challenges. It deploys an interconnected programmatic architecture that articulates blue economy from different thematic clusters and cross-cutting lines, significantly expanding the volume and impact of funding. The blue economy is configured as a research, development and innovation (R&D&I) ecosystem, linked to marine digitalisation, energy transition, blue biotechnology development, ecosystem restoration, and territorial governance objectives. This confirms that the blue economy is not structured as a set of isolated innovation domains, but rather as an interconnected R&D&I system in which digitalisation, energy transition, ecosystem restoration and biotechnology are increasingly interdependent.

The most relevant instruments include:

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment: EUR 77 million in calls directly aligned with the blue economy, including marine biotechnology, ocean governance, ecological restoration and sustainable valorisation of aquatic resources. The European Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership stands out, receiving initial funding of EUR 60 million with a co-financing target of up to EUR 150 million in the medium term.
• Climate, Energy and Mobility: with an investment exceeding EUR 138 million in technologies related to the blue economy, including renewable marine energies (floating wind, tidal, wave), naval electrification, zero-emission maritime transport, and sustainable port infrastructures.
• Research Infrastructures: with an estimated envelope of up to EUR 43.5 million in science and technology platforms for ocean observation, sustainable aquaculture, testing of offshore technologies and the development of the Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO).
• Digital, Industry and Space: with specific calls on marine observation using satellite technology, under the Copernicus programme, and digital ocean technologies (AI, marine sensors, predictive analytics). Although the allocation is smaller (approximately EUR 9 million), its technological impact is fundamental.

In total, the European investment in the blue economy under Horizon Europe 2023–2024 exceeds EUR 325 million, reaffirming its importance as a strategic axis of public funding in science, innovation, and sustainability, in line with the Strategic Plan 2021–2024 and Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027.

The EU Horizon Missions programs in the 2025–2026 period reflect a thematic diversification and a strengthening of European scientific capacities within the blue economy. Overall, these programs demonstrate how Horizon Europe not only maintains its role as a strategic funding pillar but also promotes an integrated approach that articulates science, innovation, and sustainability within the blue economy.

Digitalisation is a key pillar of R&D&I in the EU’s blue economy; it is a broad thematic area within the Mission’s portfolio. The digitalisation of the marine environment, as part of Europe's blue economy, is reshaping the management of ocean resources. However, for these transformations to be effective in the long term, it is essential to address regulatory and technical challenges, as well as to ensure the resilience of key infrastructures.

In the framework of Horizon Europe 2023-2024, digitalisation is at the heart of the marine innovation driver. This strategy is articulated through key initiatives such as the EU Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) initiative, which encompasses the core public infrastructure EDITO and many different projects funded through the Mission Ocean and Horizon Europe, to provide advanced tools for sustainable management of these ecosystems. This approach promotes a qualitative leap in the ability to understand and predict changes in the marine environment, laying the groundwork for informed and effective decision-making. These efforts are complemented by Blue-Cloud 2026 and AquaINFRA, which connect marine and freshwater data infrastructures to support research and policymaking, respectively.

Additional initiatives such as DTO4HORIZON support the operationalisation and uptake of the Digital Twin Ocean by facilitating user engagement, integration of services and the development of use cases across sectors.

Furthermore, high-resolution modelling is strengthened through projects such as IMMERSE, which advances ocean modelling capabilities using the NEMO framework and supports climate-related applications. These initiatives enhance interoperability across marine and freshwater data systems, enabling more integrated and cross-sectoral analysis of water ecosystems. Complementary projects such as NECCTON further enhance marine ecosystem modelling by improving the representation of biogeochemical processes in ocean models, strengthening the scientific basis for ocean prediction and climate assessments.

Additionally, projects like DIGI4ECO and DTO-BioFlow focus on ecological monitoring and biodiversity data integration, while IDEATION develops a roadmap for the digitalisation of inland waters, ensuring interoperability with the DTO. Projects such as Marine SABRES further contribute to integrating biodiversity data, ecosystem monitoring and socio-ecological indicators, into digital marine frameworks, supporting more holistic ecosystem-based management approaches.

Other notable initiatives include ILIAD, which aims to establish a comprehensive digital twin framework, and SURIMI, SEADOTs, ECOTWIN, and SEADITO, which address socio-ecological components of the DTO. Furthermore, Immerse advances high-resolution ocean modelling (using the NEMO framework) to enhance regional climate change predictions. Together, these initiatives enhance predictive capabilities and foster sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Digitalisation in the marine domain is not limited to data collection and traditional modelling. It also extends to the application of emerging technologies that transform the way ocean resources are managed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role, optimising ocean monitoring, fisheries management and port logistics. Projects such as iMagine advance the use of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing for processing large-scale marine image data, supporting biodiversity monitoring, seabed mapping and ecosystem assessment.

Likewise, the deployment of smart cables and underwater sensors is revolutionizing marine data collection, while strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure such as undersea cables. These advances are also driving port efficiency through process automation and the use of autonomous vehicles, contributing to a more robust and efficient onshore maritime infrastructure.

However, the integration of these digital technologies faces significant challenges. The submarine cable network, essential for global connectivity, lacks a coherent regulatory framework and adequate oversight. Although technologies such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) are improving monitoring capabilities, knowledge gaps persist, especially in areas such as military infrastructure and spatial redundancy. The protection and monitoring of these infrastructures is a task that requires policy innovation and technological advances to ensure their sustainability.

Another emerging challenge is the implementation of marine carbon dioxide removal methods. These solutions, still in the early stages, face both technical and political barriers. Their large-scale development requires a substantial improvement in ocean monitoring, as well as a deeper understanding of their impact on the marine carbon cycle. 

In the context of environmental management, projects such as CLIMAREST highlight the increasing importance of data-driven and digitally enabled approaches to marine ecosystem restoration, linking monitoring systems with policy implementation and adaptive management. PlastHealth incorporates advanced tools such as metagenomic analysis and complex experimental approaches to track microplastics in ecosystems, while also embedding artificial intelligence and digital agenda components in its design. MONICA focuses directly on the digitalisation of environmental monitoring by using low-cost imaging technologies (such as underwater cameras and remote video systems), enabling continuous ecological data generation and supporting evidence-based decision-making. IRISS reinforces this transition by building a digital-enabled ecosystem that integrates data, standards, and knowledge-sharing platforms to accelerate the adoption of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design approaches across industries. Meanwhile, SDGs-EYES represents a direct digital contribution, leveraging Copernicus Earth observation data and digital monitoring tools to track sustainability indicators, including those related to oceans and coastal systems. 

Together, these projects contribute to the digitalisation of blue sectors by improving how materials are designed, assessed, and monitored through digital tools, while also strengthening environmental intelligence systems that support sustainable marine and maritime governance.

The blue energy transition is a key component of the EU strategy to achieve climate neutrality, with Horizon Europe playing an important role in supporting the development of technologies aimed at decarbonisation and the sustainable use of marine resources. The program promotes projects focused on renewable ocean energy, including floating offshore wind, tidal and wave energy, and low-emission maritime transport technologies.

Horizon Europe targets research lines that include the development of wind turbines adapted to deep waters, wave energy converters, and sustainable propulsion systems for the maritime sector. It also supports the investigation of technologies for offshore renewable energy production, as well as renewable energy storage and distribution, aiming to integrate intermittent sources such as solar and wind. Additionally, sustainable mobility solutions are being developed in both the maritime and land-based sectors, with an emphasis on clean technologies for vehicle propulsion and new smart mobility solutions. These initiatives focus on decarbonisation, sustainability, and climate change adaptation across the energy and transport sectors.

Recent projects illustrate these developments. The AquaWind project demonstrates a co-located solution integrating marine renewable energy production with aquaculture systems, exploring synergies between energy generation and sustainable food production.

Additional Horizon Europe projects further support the deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies, including initiatives focused on floating offshore wind and hybrid energy systems, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in marine energy innovation. More broadly, emerging approaches based on offshore multi-use platforms aim to optimise the use of maritime space by combining renewable energy production with other economic activities, contributing to both efficiency and environmental sustainability.

In parallel, Horizon Europe supports research on alternative maritime fuels such as hydrogen, advanced marine biofuels and e-fuels, which are considered key options for decarbonising maritime transport. E-fuels include e-methanol, e-methane, e-diesel, e-ammonia, and e-hydrogen. These fuels are considered among the options for decarbonizing the maritime transport sector. However, according to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), barriers related to cost, availability, and technology maturity currently limit their broader adoption[4].

Expanding their use requires scaling up renewable energy production and advancing key technologies beyond the demonstration phase. Several EU-funded initiatives are supporting pilot and demonstration projects aimed at scaling up clean fuel deployment in the shipping sector.

For example, the Innovation Fund, financed through revenues from the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), is one of the world’s largest funding programmes supporting the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. For the 2020–2030 period, the Fund is expected to mobilise approximately EUR 40 billion. To date, around EUR 12 billion has already been awarded to nearly 200 projects across countries of the European Economic Area, including EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

In Spain, the H2 PIONEROS initiative supports green hydrogen projects aimed at energy system electrification and the decarbonisation of transport and industry. The RENMARINAS DEMOS program, also in Spain, promotes the development and adaptation of testing platforms for marine renewable technologies. It is supported by national and regional public funding exceeding EUR 240 million.

EU-funded projects in the maritime sector demonstrate different types of innovation aimed at decarbonization. For example, projects such as SustainSea focus on the application of renewable energy, such as wind propulsion in commercial vessels, while eMETHANOLxWSolution and INDIGO represent initiatives based on alternative fuels and hybrid systems (e-methanol and electrification). Others, such as H2ydroShuttleand EO2, are oriented towards the development of zero-emission hydrogen-based vessels, while Swap2Zero integrates multiple renewable sources through a combined energy design approach. Finally, projects such as REACHstand out for the digitalisation and automation of the offshore sector, highlighting how technological innovation complements the energy transition in maritime transport.

Several of these initiatives are aligned with broader policy objectives supported by Horizon Europe. One of these frameworks is the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, co-funded by Horizon Europe and involving 74 partner institutions from 30 countries along with the European Commission. The partnership coordinates research and innovation strategies related to sustainable marine development, with a planned investment of EUR 450 million over seven years. It focuses on offshore multi-use infrastructures across different European sea basins, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Projects such as FAMOS and INSPIRE have been developed under this partnership.

One of the research projects developed in this context is FLOATFARM, coordinated by EDF R&D in France, with participation from partners in the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Germany. The project explores the use of algae integrated into offshore floating platforms to produce biofuels and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Research and development in offshore infrastructure also includes specific technological innovations. The HashMop project, led by CEIT, is focused on developing a real-time corrosion monitoring system for multipurpose offshore platforms. This system combines physical, chemical, oceanographic, and meteorological data to evaluate material degradation and assess the performance of new protective coatings.

The Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) initiative further complements these efforts by providing strategic coordination and road mapping for the adoption of clean maritime technologies, identifying technological gaps and supporting industrial transition pathways. ZEWT includes strategic coordination activities across public and private sectors, as well as road-mapping tasks. The ZEWT Road mapping project, coordinated by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, analyses the European market, identifies technology gaps, and develops a long-term plan for the adoption of clean technologies in the maritime sector.

Blue biotechnology has become one of the most relevant emerging areas in the development of the European blue economy. This field focuses on the application of biological technologies for the sustainable use of marine and aquatic organisms, with applications across diverse sectors such as health, food, biomaterials, cosmetics, and the environment.

Various European programs and instruments have contributed to the development of blue biotechnology, supporting research, innovation, and transnational cooperation projects in the marine field. These include Horizon Europe, through Cluster 6: Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment; BlueBio ERA-NET Cofund; the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF); the current European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF); as well as Interreg territorial cooperation programs(INTERREG). Together, these initiatives have fostered scientific advancement, technology transfer, and the strengthening of marine biotechnology capacities across Europe. Research in the EU has primarily focused on two areas: development of sustainable marine farming for biotechnological applications and investigating marine biodiversity in extreme environments, including polar regions and hydrothermal vents, to discover novel enzymes, metabolites, and bioactive compounds that could be utilized in pharmaceutical, food and manufacturing industries. These studies open new possibilities for the production of natural antibiotics, functional proteins, agricultural bio-stimulants, bioplastics, or innovative cosmetic ingredients, aligning with the principles of sustainability, circular economy, and the reduction of dependence on fossil raw materials.

Several ongoing projects highlight the dynamism of the blue biotechnology sector. MARBLES explores marine microbial diversity as a source of bioactive compounds for sustainable aquaculture and agriculture. Another example is BlueTools, which develops biotechnological tools for identifying and valorising marine bioactive compounds in health, cosmetics, and nutrition, integrating omics technologies and screening platforms. SEA2SEE investigates new sustainable production pathways for marine enzymes and metabolites of industrial interest, focusing on optimized processes with sustainability criteria. 

Additional Horizon Europe projects such as BioMarineTech are advancing biotechnological applications based on marine microorganisms, focusing on the development of sustainable bio-based products and industrial processes derived from marine bioresources.

These projects, together with BlueBio ERA-NET Cofund, which has funded over thirty transnational initiatives focused on marine species farming, fishery waste valorisation, and the development of functional ingredients and bio-products, form part of a strong European network that drives the blue biotechnology agenda.

Additionally, emerging projects such as AlgaeProBANOS focus on the valorisation of algae farming in the Baltic and North Seas, developing high-value-added products for nutrition, animal health, biodegradable packaging, and cosmetics. Similarly, BIOGEARS is advancing biobased materials for aquaculture, offering biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics in marine structures, while SeaMark promotes the commercial-scale sustainable cultivation of macroalgae for applications in food, agriculture, and innovative materials. 

Projects such as CIRCALGAE are developing integrated algae biorefinery approaches to valorise industrial algae waste streams into ingredients for food, feed and cosmetics, while initiatives such as LOCALITY support the creation of local and sustainable algae value chains in the Baltic and North Sea regions.

These efforts, along with the GENIALG project, a Horizon 2020-funded initiative, have helped develop integrated algae bio-refineries to produce bioplastics, food additives, and other sustainable industrial products.

These projects collectively reflect the transformative potential of blue biotechnology in Europe, paving the way for new sustainable solutions in diverse industries and aligning with broader goals of environmental sustainability and circular economy. Advanced technologies – such as synthetic biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and satellite observation – enable innovations in the sustainable exploitation of marine resources (OECD 2024). However, scaling up production and achieving industrial deployment remain key challenges for the sector, particularly in terms of cost competitiveness, regulatory frameworks and market uptake

Finally, the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy positions biological resources -including marine resources-, as a key driver of sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience, decisively reinforcing the role of the blue economy in Europe’s green transition. In terms of support to investment in the area of blue biotechnology, the Strategy highlights the role of the InvestEU Blue economy program, the EU algae initiative and the forthcoming EU blue bioeconomy innovation initiative as part of the Ocean Pact.

Ecological restoration and marine governance are key components of the EU’s efforts to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy. Through Horizon Europe, the EU’s main research and innovation programme, Multiple initiatives are being supported to promote ecosystem recovery, climate adaptation and improved management of coastal and marine environments.

A central initiative in this field is the European Partnership for a Climate-Neutral, Sustainable and Productive Blue Economy, which encourages collaboration between public authorities, research institutions and innovation agencies to develop integrated and transferable solutions across Europe. The aim is to support an inclusive blue transition, grounded in science and cooperation.

Within this framework, several projects are working to restore marine ecosystems using nature-based solutions and to strengthen the scientific basis of marine governance. One such project is BlueMissionMed through the implementation of Living Labs in coastal regions, the project promotes practical solutions for marine restoration and fosters collaboration between scientists, local authorities and communities.

Another key initiative is REST-COAST. The project focuses on restoring vulnerable coastlines through hybrid systems that combine natural elements—such as coastal vegetation—with resilient infrastructure.

Also contributing to this effort is OLAMUR, a project coordinated by SINTEF Ocean in Norway. OLAMUR addresses ecosystem restoration in multi-use marine areas, where activities such as aquaculture, fishing and renewable energy coexist. The project emphasises the active participation of local communities in Germany, Sweden and Estonia through demonstration activities and participatory processes. It also involves institutions from Belgium, Lithuania and Latvia, which reflects a strong spirit of international cooperation.

Similarly, projects such as EcoScope contribute to advancing ecosystem-based management approaches by developing integrated assessment tools and indicators that support science-based fisheries management and marine governance.

These initiatives are aligned with the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, which seeks to recover marine and freshwater ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience and promote science-based governance, as illustrated above.

Beyond institutional and scientific projects, there is a growing recognition of the role that citizens, mariners and private sector actors can play in observing and protecting the ocean. The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is actively fostering partnerships to involve non-scientific stakeholders in ocean monitoring efforts. These contributions—ranging from citizen science to commercial data services—are increasingly valuable for improving real-time understanding of marine conditions and supporting conservation initiatives.

Projects such as EuroSea and AtlantECO strengthen ocean observation systems and data integration across Europe and the Atlantic, improving the availability of harmonized datasets and supporting more effective monitoring and decision-making processes.

At the same time, marine spatial planning (MSP) is being adopted globally as a key tool for the sustainable management of maritime spaces. MSP helps organize different uses of marine areas, balance ecological protection with economic activities, and reduce conflicts between sectors. However, while progress is evident in Europe, the adoption and implementation of marine spatial plans in other regions remain limited, often due to weak legal and institutional frameworks.

ReMAP, REGINA, MSP-GREEN and other EU-supported marine spatial planning projects extend beyond the scope of the European Green Deal by integrating its environmental objectives into maritime planning while also tackling wider sustainability, governance, and socio-economic dimensions to ensure a more coherent and sustainable use of marine space. 

According to the State of the Ocean Report by IOC-UNESCO, effective marine spatial planning requires more than planned approval. It involves continuous monitoring and evaluation, including the level of stakeholder engagement, the practicality and content of the plans, how they are implemented, and the results they generate. Strengthening these processes is essential to ensure that spatial planning truly supports sustainable development in marine areas.

Taking together, restoration efforts, community engagement, scientific observation and spatial planning represent interconnected pathways toward a healthier and more sustainable ocean. The evolving governance of Europe’s blue economy shows that combining innovation, science and inclusive approaches can drive lasting positive change in our seas. In this sense, citizen science and digital monitoring approaches are increasingly supported through EU initiatives, enhancing real-time data collection and strengthening participatory governance frameworks.

In this context, several projects under the Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence actions under Horizon Europe (WIDERA) programme make a significant contribution to the objectives of the Mission Ocean, particularly in the areas of governance, awareness-raising and pollution prevention. Among them, SMART4ENV strengthens capacities in smart environmental technologies while promoting societal awareness; TRIQUETRA provides tools to assess and mitigate climate risks in coastal and fluvial areas; REAL_DEAL fosters green leadership and stakeholder engagement through deliberative approaches; and GREENLand focuses on reducing microplastic pollution through research, innovation and education. 

A core issue identified is the financing gap for blue economy scale-ups. Many innovative start-ups are reaching the stage where they require significant capital (for demonstrations, manufacturing, fleet deployment, etc.), but access to finance remains a bottleneck, mainly due to an insufficient number of specialised, large-scale venture capital firms and structural investment barriers, such as skilled labour shortages.

The EIB’s Blue Champions survey of leading EU ocean tech companies revealed exceptionally high capital expenditure (CAPEX) needs, particularly in hardware-intensive sectors like renewable energy, shipping, and aquaculture. These firms must invest in infrastructure, vessels, or grid connections that demand large upfront funding, all while navigating unproven markets and environmental uncertainties.

According to the survey, the 34 companies participating in the Blue Champions pilot collectively estimate funding needs of approximately EUR 1.4 billion over the next two years, and close to EUR 4 billion over the next five years, averaging EUR 40 million and EUR 110 million per company, respectively. 

These financing needs illustrate a broader challenge: traditional investors often perceive blue ventures as too risky or long-horizon investments, leading to capital scarcity precisely when companies need to scale manufacturing and commercialise innovations (EIB 2025).

To address these challenges, the EU has strengthened its financial support through instruments such as the BlueInvest platform, which provides targeted assistance to blue economy start-ups and scale-ups by facilitating access to investors, offering coaching services, and supporting investment readiness.

In parallel, the Innovation Fund and InvestEU are playing an increasingly important role in bridging the gap between research and market deployment, particularly for capital-intensive projects in areas such as offshore renewable energy, hydrogen and clean maritime technologies. These instruments aim to de-risk investments and crowd in private capital by supporting first-of-a-kind commercial projects.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) also contribute through dedicated financing mechanisms, including venture debt, guarantees and blended finance solutions, which are particularly relevant for scaling innovative blue economy companies facing high upfront costs and long payback periods.

Despite these efforts, a persistent “valley of death” remains between early-stage innovation—often supported by Horizon Europe grants—and large-scale commercial deployment, highlighting the need for stronger alignment between public funding instruments and private investment flow

Numerous projects demonstrate how EU public investment is facilitating the development of innovative solutions that combine sustainability, technology, and competitiveness within the blue economy. Examples include BlueAquaEdu, which contributes to human capital development through gamification tools, strengthening the professionalization of the sector. SATURN addresses the impact of underwater noise through innovative solutions, while RAPID develops autonomous technologies for port inspection, helping to optimize processes and reduce costs. In addition, ULTFARM advances circular aquaculture models integrated into wind farms, aligned with ecological transition objectives. 

Beyond Horizon Europe, several other EU programmes finance projects and activities contributing to the sustainability transition of the blue economy, for instance in terms of circularity, carbon-neutrality, decarbonisation multi-use of water, and ecosystem perspectives. While the bulk of funding for these activities comes from Horizon Europe, relevant financing originates from other framework programmes, such as LIFE2027 (Programme for the Environment and Climate Action), Interreg Europe, EMFAF (and its precursor EMFF - European Maritime and Fisheries Fund), CEF (Connecting Europe Facility), COSME, DIGITAL, ERASMUS+ (EPLUS2020 and ERASMUS2027), SMP, I3 and the Innovation Fund, play a more limited but strategically important role by integrating complementary dimensions such as connectivity, business competitiveness, digitalisation, education and industrial innovation.

Taken together, this combination of instruments reflects a structured and multi-layered funding architecture. In particular, LIFE2027 and Interreg contribute to extending territorial coverage and supporting implementation at local and regional levels. At the same time, sector-specific and cross-cutting instruments, including EMFAF, EMFF and Erasmus+, strengthen the system by linking research and innovation with skills development, sectoral transformation and market uptake. Overall, this diversified portfolio underpins a mature and balanced funding ecosystem, aligned with the EU’s strategic priorities and capable of combining scientific excellence, practical deployment and territorial cohesion.

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) represents one of the key financial instruments supporting the development of the EU blue economy. Between 2015 and 2026, EU funding allocated to marine‑related projects shows significant variation in both investment levels and number of supported initiatives. This pattern reflects evolving policy priorities in maritime innovation, marine sustainability and ocean governance.

From a policy perspective, the average investment per project provides an additional indicator of programme intensity (Table 1). Higher average investment values typically correspond to larger collaborative research initiatives or infrastructure‑based marine science projects. Monitoring these trends can help assess the scale of EU research investments and their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 14.a, which promotes increased scientific knowledge and research capacity related to oceans and marine ecosystems.

The evolution of investment from 2015 to 2026 shows an overall positive trajectory, highlighting the programme’s capacity to mobilize approximately EUR 196.4 million across 252 projects. A progressive consolidation is evident, with strong momentum in 2017–2019, peaking in 2019, followed by a notable enhancement in project scale and quality in 2020–2021, as reflected in the higher average investment per project. In subsequent years, the sustained number of projects combined with stable average investment levels indicates a balanced approach between reach and efficiency. Overall, the data demonstrates a solid evolution, with adaptability to changing contexts and sustained impact over time.

The Study to Support and Design Skills Development highlights that the blue economy is a strategic pillar for sustainable growth, innovation, and employment in the EU, while identifying a growing demand for digital and green skills across both traditional and emerging sectors. It also points to mismatches in education and training provision, particularly regarding practical and interdisciplinary training, and proposes strengthening cooperation between the education sector and industry. Among its main outcomes is the development of the BlueComp competence framework, conceived as a key tool to guide training and ensure a skilled, resilient workforce aligned with the current and future needs of the blue economy.

Furthermore, the Study’s main findings reveal a growing and consistent demand for digital skills (especially GIS and data management), green skills (sustainable resource management, renewable energy), and transversal skills such as project management and regulatory competencies across the EU blue economy. A gap was identified between education provision and labor market needs, with traditional training programs often failing to address emerging competencies, and with innovative sectors such as blue biotechnology and marine robotics being underrepresented in both research and educational offerings.