Mediterranean countries join forces to promote “Blue Economy”

boosting economic growth and jobs. The BlueMed Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) outlines a set of key challenges for the Mediterranean and particularly knowledge gaps, specific activities enabling the blue growth as well as measures for capacity creation and skills’ enhancement. Sectors of interest include ecosystems, climate change, biotechnologies, aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, shipbuilding, transportation, observing systems, data, offshore platforms, cultural heritage and spatial planning. The SRIA targets relevant research and innovation players and public and private actors of the blue economy such as national ministries, regional authorities, international organisations, research organisations, research infrastructures, academia, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the general public. During the Platforms meeting, representatives from countries of the Mediterranean region both EU and non-EU members, exchanged knowledge and discussed the future actions of this Initiative. The discussion evolved around drafting the implementation plan for the selected thirteen priority Blue Economy areas, which include sustainable food production, marine pollution impacts and mitigation, climate change mitigation measures, tourism, effective maritime spatial planning, greening vessels, facilities and services, blue-biotech, marine renewable energies, building capacity, blue skills and blue professionals and strengthening synergies among science, industry, policymakers and society. The BLUEMED SRIA is expected to be completed in September 2020. Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2019.