AT A GLANCE
MED-Hubs is a European initiative aimed at strengthening the Western Mediterranean blue economy by turning cutting-edge ideas into market-ready solutions. The project establishes two interconnected Blue Economy hubs: one in Spain, focused on marine renewable energy, and one in Italy, dedicated to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Together, these hubs create a strong interregional ecosystem for collaboration, innovation, and technology validation.
Through open calls for pilot projects, MED-Hubs tests emerging solutions in real operating conditions, increasing market confidence and supporting their uptake by industry and public authorities. The project brings together SMEs, startups, researchers, ports, fisheries, investors, policymakers, and coastal communities to jointly shape a more sustainable and competitive blue economy.
ALDA leads the stakeholder engagement activities, ensuring the active involvement of public authorities, civil society, and interregional partners across Europe. By fostering participation, dialogue, and community building, ALDA helps ensure that MED-Hubs remains inclusive, participatory, and firmly rooted in regional needs, while supporting the project’s long-term replication and expansion efforts.
MED-Hubs also promotes knowledge exchange, mentoring, and networking through a growing community of blue economy professionals. All interested stakeholders are invited to take part in events and activities and to join the MED-Hubs Community at www.deep-ecosystems.com/med-hubs.
OBJECTIVES
The Western Mediterranean blue economy holds significant potential for sustainable growth, yet many innovative solutions struggle to move from research and experimentation to market deployment. MED-Hubs addresses this challenge by bridging the gap between innovation and market uptake through interregional cooperation and real-life testing environments.
The project aims to:
- establish and operate two interregional innovation hubs focused on marine renewable energy and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture;
- foster collaboration among SMEs, startups, investors, research institutions, policymakers, and coastal communities within a quadruple helix framework;
- support the development, testing, and validation of innovative solutions through open calls, pilot projects, and a tailored “From Idea to Market” upscaling process;
- increase trust and adoption of new technologies through the “Trusted Pilots” approach;
- strengthen interregional partnerships and facilitate the replication of successful solutions through an Expansion Program.
By promoting sustainable practices, innovation, and cooperation, MED-Hubs aims to drive blue growth, create jobs, enhance regional competitiveness, and empower coastal communities, contributing to the development of a resilient and sustainable European blue economy.