TM27 | Empowering the Blue Economy: Education, Research, and Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean Future

TM27

Empowering the Blue Economy: Education, Research, and Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean Future

Convener: Richard Sempéré

Tue, 03 Jun, 12:45–13:45 (CEST)|Room 4

This session will explore how the growing blue economy requires a strategic rethinking of education, research, and workforce development to address sustainable development challenges. As the blue economy evolves, new professions are emerging at the intersection of marine science, technology, and socio-economic innovation. These roles demand forward-looking training and interdisciplinary research to tackle complex environmental, economic, and societal issues, while strengthening industry connections to ensure practical impact. Key to this transformation is developing skills in areas like ocean monitoring, autonomous marine technologies, and digital tools for data analysis and ecosystem management. These advancements are reshaping how we interact with marine environments, promoting more sustainable practices. Emerging skills in sustainable fishing, tourism, decarbonizing maritime transport, and marine renewable energy are vital for aligning economic growth with environmental preservation. Innovations in climate-neutral fuels, wind propulsion, and nature-based solutions help reduce the ecological footprint of maritime activities while boosting local economies and preserving cultural heritage. To fully seize these opportunities, it’s essential to bridge the gap between academia, education, and industry. Research must align with the needs of the blue economy, ensuring academic insights become practical solutions. Collaborative frameworks involving universities, industry, and policymakers will promote innovation and ensure training programs meet sector demands. This approach will accelerate the development of new technologies and practices, providing students and professionals with real-world experience and industry-relevant skills. The global scale of these challenges underscores the importance of inclusive collaboration, particularly for the Global South. Tailored capacity-building, inclusive partnerships, and technology transfer must ensure blue economy opportunities are accessible to all. Frugal innovation will be critical in developing cost-effective, adaptable technologies that address regional needs, empowering communities worldwide to adopt sustainable practices. By focusing on equitable access and local empowerment, the blue economy can become a driver of global equity and resilience. Meeting these objectives requires reimagining education and training systems. Interdisciplinary Master’s programs, vocational training, and lifelong learning initiatives for students and professionals will equip future workers with the necessary knowledge and skills for blue economy careers. Programs combining environmental science, engineering, economics, and law will produce a workforce capable of managing marine resources, adapting to climate change, and fostering maritime innovation. Research will play a pivotal role in closing knowledge gaps and driving innovation. Key priorities include marine biodiversity conservation, sustainable aquaculture, and technologies for waste reduction and pollution management. These efforts must be integrated into educational frameworks and co-designed with industry to ensure practical relevance. This panel will showcase real-world examples of how education, research, and industry collaboration can generate impactful results. Existing models, such as the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), will demonstrate how cross-sector collaboration fosters sustainability. The session will provide actionable recommendations to guide global efforts toward a sustainable blue economy, emphasizing the importance of integrating education, research, and industry to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. It calls for collective investment in preparing the next generation of professionals to address the challenges and opportunities for oceans and coastal communities.

The convenor opens the session by presenting the central theme: "How can we better integrate research, education, and industry to support the development of a sustainable blue economy?"

The speakers will then discuss 3 topics during 30 minutes

1. How can research better address the complex needs of the blue economy?
2. What collaborative models between academia, industry, and policymakers work best?
3. What new skills and educational approaches are needed to support the blue workforce?

Then, the session is opened for 25 minutes to the audience for Q&A

Speakers

Elisabetta Balzi, EU Commission, Belgium
Siri Granum Carson, NTNU, Norway
Carlos M. Duarte, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
Nuno Lourenco, +ATLANTIC Colab, Portugal
Angelique Pouponneau, Alliance of Small Island States, United States of America
Sheena Talma, Seychelles