Gijón Showcases Its Commitment to the Blue Economy with a Roadshow on European Funding Opportunities
On 27 February 2026, Gijón hosted the event “Taller: Oportunidades de financiación en la economía azul”, a full‑day workshop dedicated to exploring the diverse funding instruments available to strengthen the region’s blue economy.
The event, organised by Gijón Impulsa in close collaboration with the Spanish National Hub for the Atlantic Action Plan and WestMED Initiative, brought together national, regional, and local institutions alongside universities, industry representatives and innovators.
Held at the Escuela Superior de la Marina Civil (University of Oviedo), the workshop gathered around 50 participants for the plenary session and 30 participants for the interactive Roadshow, demonstrating the growing interest in maritime innovation, sustainability and coastal development.
Local Commitment to a Strategic Sector
In her opening remarks, Ángela Pumariega, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Economy, Employment, Tourism and Innovation of Gijón/Xixón, highlighted the strategic relevance of the blue economy for the city’s present and future. Describing the event as “exciting and enriching”, she stressed that the blue economy not only presents environmental and technological challenges but also unlocks “opportunities in the form of added value, skilled employment, and innovation.”
Her message echoed Gijón’s ambition to consolidate its position as a national leader in the field through strong alliances, access to funding, and the development of robust, forward‑looking projects.
Expert Insights on European Funding Opportunities
Blue Economy within the EU Framework
Marta Pascual, Spanish National Hub for the Atlantic Action Plan and WestMED Initiative, provided an overview of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy and Spain’s active engagement across several sea basin strategies. She emphasized that “the more connected we are to what is happening, the better positioned we will be for current and future funding.”
Her intervention revisited the four pillars of the Atlantic Action Plan - ports, blue skills, marine renewable energy, and healthy oceans - and presented concrete examples of thematic funding opportunities spanning maritime decarbonisation, blue tourism, marine knowledge, and digital innovation.
National Priorities and Sectoral Opportunities
From the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Isabel Camacho, Head of the Blue Economy Area, explained the critical role of fisheries and aquaculture in Spain’s economic and social fabric. She detailed the functioning of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and highlighted key initiatives such as REECEA, a knowledge‑sharing network supporting innovation and capacity building across the sector.
European Territorial Cooperation
Elena Barrios, Technical Advisor at the Directorate-General for European Funds, outlined opportunities under Interreg Atlantic Area and Interreg SUDOE, both of which will maintain open calls throughout 2026. She emphasized the need to form strong international partnerships and showcased successful projects such as BlueSkilling Innovation, HYDEA, GreenMedPorts, and SMAC.
Horizon Europe and Mission Oceans
Representing the CDTI, Juan Carlos García, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe’s Clusters 5 and 6, introduced the main pillars of Horizon Europe and upcoming calls relevant to the blue economy. He underlined opportunities within the Oceans and Waters Mission and co‑funded partnerships such as Water4All and the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership.
Interactive Roadshow: From Ideas to Collaboration
In the second part of the event, participants joined a dynamic Roadshow session designed to foster dialogue, matchmaking, and practical guidance. Attendees presented project ideas and received tailored advice from funding experts across a wide range of EU programmes, including EMFAF, Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg, COSME, S3, and others.
This collaborative setting allowed stakeholders from academia, industry, public administration, and innovation ecosystems to identify synergies and explore new consortia for future proposals. The diversity of actors and topics reaffirmed the cross‑cutting nature of the blue economy and Gijón’s potential to become a regional hub for sustainable maritime development.
A Growing Ecosystem with European Ambition
The overarching message of the day was clear: funding is abundant, but success requires strategy, alignment with EU priorities, and strong international cooperation. Building on its maritime tradition, innovation capabilities, and academic excellence, Gijón aims to position itself as a competitive player in the European blue economy landscape.
The event closed with a strong call to action: to transform ideas into concrete, collaborative, and well‑structured projects that can drive economic transformation and support the sustainable future of the city and the wider region.
