WestMED’s Maritime Cluster Alliance at SeaFuture 2025
Within the framework of the 9th edition of SEAFUTURE in La Spezia, Italy, WestMED once again contributed to the success of the event, with a workshop on 2 October 2025. This workshop was dedicated to the multiple and diversified ways to do clustering and help local ecosystems exploit their potential.
During the workshop many leading experts explored the role of clusters in scaling up sustainable blue economy initiatives across the Mediterranean. Topics ranged from funding programmes and water management to incubation and acceleration – including the role of the EU Sea Basins Technical Assistance.
DG MARE, UfM, the WestMED National Coordinator, and the Ministry of Sea Policies and Civil Protection, also highlighted major maritime developments such as the European Ocean Pact, the new Mediterranean Pact, the Italian engagement to “equip” its Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) Strategy with a dedicated ministry, a first MSP ICZM plan for Italy and a new national cluster on underwater technologies (Polo Nazionale della Dimensione Subacquea).
This was followed by a series of expert panels – each with a focus on identifying and closing the gaps in the maritime cluster ecosystem – approaching it from different angles: Investment and funding initiatives, cluster incubators and accelerators, water management and desalination/ re-use initiatives, EU Programmes with EU Missions and Horizon Partnerships, and Sustainable business models as illustrated by five innovative start-ups and SMEs.
This workshop provided participants a good overview of the current state of play, new ideas and a good impression of how the WestMED Assistance Mechnism has supported cluster -and project development over the years.
The SEAFUTURE exhibition, also offered excellent network opportunities as well as an occasion to mark new developments:
- The European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC) announced the decision to recognize the status of Observer to the WestMED Maritime Clusters Alliance, thus allowing also southern shore clusters to represent their ecosystem in this contest;
- 6 maritime clusters of the WestMED Cluster Alliance shared a stand the exhibition;
- the Libyan Maritime Cluster and the Tunisian Maritime Cluster took the opportunity to widen their relations beyond their regional dimension
- new actors that joined the WestMED community, found an inspiring atmosphere to interact with established stakeholders (TEHA, AIDARA, Suez Italy, etc.).
A final session of the Blue Mission Med – EU Restore Our Ocean and Waters concluded the workshop, as an excellent lane towards the WestMED Stakeholders Conference 2025 in Tunis, on 28 November 2025!
For more information contact Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy): italy@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu
About SeaFuture
SeaFuture is a major international exhibition and conference held at the La Spezia Naval Base in Italy, showcasing innovative technologies and solutions in the maritime, defense, and Blue Economy sectors, and serving as a global platform for networking, collaboration, and sustainable growth from September 29 to October 2, 2025
Watch the interview with Leonardo Manzari during this workshop:
WestMED’s Maritime Cluster Stand at SeaFuture 2025, hosted by Federazione del Mare, Cluster BIG (Blue Italian Growth), Strategis, Fórum Oceano, Cluster Maritime Tunisien and the Libyan Maritime Cluster
