Mediterranean Blue Economy Conference Highlights Innovation and Regional Cooperation in Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain | 23 June 2026 – More than 120 policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and maritime stakeholders gathered at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT) for the Mediterranean Blue Economy Conference 2026, a flagship event organised under the MED-Hubs project.
The conference explored how interregional cooperation, innovation and investment can accelerate sustainable blue economy growth across the Mediterranean. Throughout the day, participants exchanged insights on Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), emerging blue technologies, financing opportunities and the role of innovation hubs in bringing market-ready solutions closer to deployment.
The event also marked an important milestone for MED-Hubs with the presentation of two innovation testbeds in Spain and Italy, alongside the launch of a new cohort of startups joining the MED-Hubs Acceleration Programme
Strengthening Mediterranean innovation ecosystems
A central theme of the conference was the need to strengthen cross-border innovation ecosystems to unlock sustainable blue growth across the region.
During Panel 2 – Connecting Mediterranean Innovation Ecosystems for Blue Growth, Celia Murcia, WestMED Assistance Mechanism Coordinator and CEO of BLUE-JOBS, highlighted the importance of stronger connections between regional stakeholders, innovation hubs and public authorities. Building these links, she noted, is essential to creating clearer pathways that move research and innovation from laboratories to real-world application.
Her contribution underscored the role of initiatives such as WestMED and MED-Hubs in fostering collaboration across Mediterranean regions, enabling innovators to access expertise, strategic partnerships and opportunities to scale sustainable maritime solutions.
Empowering coastal communities through collaboration
The afternoon programme turned to the social dimension of the blue economy with Panel 3 – Empowering Coastal Communities in the Blue Economy Transition.
Javier Fernández López, Technical Director at ECORYS Spain and Team Leader of the EU Sea Basin Strategies Assistance Mechanism, joined fellow panellists to discuss how coastal communities can take an active role in building a more sustainable and resilient maritime economy.
Rather than viewing coastal communities solely as beneficiaries of the transition, the discussion emphasised their role as co-designers, validators and long-term partners in shaping innovation and policy. Panellists stressed that local actors – including fishers, tourism businesses, entrepreneurs and environmental organisations – are central to strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of coastal regions.
The conversation also highlighted that the success of the blue economy depends on more than technological advances and policy frameworks. Skills development, local ownership, social inclusion and community resilience are equally critical, prompting an important question: who ultimately benefits from sustainable blue growth?
Watch Javier’s presentation with an excerpt from the panel discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N0xoFwSOfw
Building momentum for sustainable blue growth
The conference concluded with a clear message: collaboration remains the driving force behind a competitive and sustainable Mediterranean blue economy.
By bringing together governments, research organisations, businesses, investors and regional authorities, the event showcased how initiatives such as MED-Hubs and the WestMED Initiative are helping bridge the gap between research, innovation and market deployment.
Beyond the exchange of ideas, the Mediterranean Blue Economy Conference strengthened partnerships that will continue to support maritime innovation, empower coastal communities and advance inclusive blue growth across the Mediterranean.
