Digital transformation. Social impact. A sustainable Blue Economy

🌊 WELCOME BACK!

The Bluedots project brings its community together to advance sustainability, digital maturity and inclusion across the Blue Economy.
Once again, we want to thank you for being part of it!

This month, we’re sharing what’s coming next, reflecting on recent learning opportunities, and highlighting new insights to support your digital and sustainable transition.

👇 Keep reading to explore what's new!

Bluedots Germany Living Labs | Kiel, 18–19 June 2026

On 18–19 June 2026, the Bluedots community will meet in Kiel, Germany, for the German chapter of the Bluedots Living Labs, a two-day capacity-building initiative focused on responsible tourism within the Blue Economy.

The event will:

• Bring together practitioners, organisations and institutions working on blue tourism and the social economy
• Showcase concrete practices that balance sustainability, inclusion and economic resilience
• Explore digital tools and collaborative approaches for smarter and greener tourism models
• Create space for peer exchange through workshops, networking and business matchmaking

The programme combines plenary sessions, hands-on workshops and networking moments, and includes a keynote by Christian Felber, co-founder of the Economy for the Common Good, as well as the chance to experience the opening of Kieler Woche, the world's largest sailing event.

Date: 18–19 June 2026

Where: Kiel, Germany

Financial support of up to €800 is available to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for up to two participants per organisation.

📅 The call is open until 15 May 2026.

Apply here.

HEAR FROM THE PARTICIPANTS!

Did you miss the Bluedots Living Lab in Milan? No worries!

Catch up on the presentations and insights shared by participants, now available online.

Organisations like AMA, Sail la Vie, Ocean Eye, Build Blue and more shared their ideas on blue tourism, responsible travel, and the future of the Blue Economy.

Watch our interviews with participants and go through the presentations!

Open Call: Free Coaching and Mentoring for Blue Economy SMEs

Bluedots is looking for 40 social economy organisations across Europe to receive free, tailored coaching and mentoring on digital transformation and sustainability.

Cooperatives, associations and social enterprises active in fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine energy or blue biotech are invited to apply. The sessions cover blue economy strategy, circular marine value chains, and digitalisation tools like IoT and AI, and can be held online or on-site in English, Italian, Spanish, German or Polish.

👉🏻 Spots are limited — learn more and apply here.

💡 We launched a new series of interviews with our partners!

Digital Maturity, Technology Adoption and Innovation in the Blue Economy: Interview with Francisco Martínez Frutos

“Before engaging in this kind of analysis within Bluedots, I used to assume that the main barrier for SMEs is access to technology. But when you look closely at the day-to-day reality of small and social economy enterprises in the blue sector, the picture becomes much more layered. Technology may be available, but adoption is rarely a purely technical issue. It is about time, staff capacity, confidence, cash flow, and access to trusted support.”

Read the interview

Cooperatives, Digital Transition, and the Blue Economy: Interview with Rosario Coronado, COCETA

"The digital transition within the blue economy is not only about implementing technology, but also about encouraging cross-sector cooperation and knowledge transfer among public institutions, industry, the social economy, and civil society. Digital tools must be accessible, affordable, and adaptable to the realities of social economy SMEs and workers' cooperatives."

Read the interview

Bluedots Project
101167884 (SMP-COSME-2023-SEED)
2023 – 2025

Funded by European Union COSME Program