The UPWELLING project addresses critical challenges facing the AA blue economy, including the skills gap, limited access to marine infrastructure, and weak collaboration among stakeholders.To bridge these gaps, UPWELLING establishes a transnational network and the UPWELLING Academy. This academy will offer specialised training in emerging marine technologies and facilitates prototyping activities, empowering SMEs and startups while nurturing a new generation of skilled professionals. Key outputs include a digital platform integrating marine infrastructure services and job offers, an Academy offering specialized training programs, collaborative hackathons, proof-of-concept activities, and a wealth of educational resources. The transnational cooperation between partners from Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and France, UPWELLING leverages regional strengths to enhance knowledge sharing and marine resource integration in the blue sector of the AA.
THE ROLE OF THE INNOVALIA ASSOCIATION
INNOVALIA contributes significantly by supporting the creation of a strong interregional network that integrates marine infrastructure, technologies, and expertise across the Atlantic Area. It participates in the development of the UPWELLING platform, helping to connect marine-related facilities, testing centers, laboratories, and innovation hubs with external talent and SMEs/startups. INNOVALIA also helps identify needs and challenges within the blue economy sector, aligning network resources with the requirements of SMEs, startups, and other key stakeholders. Through these actions, it fosters collaboration, supports the growth of the blue economy ecosystem, and promotes innovation and external talent attraction.
INNOVALIA contributes to the development of the UPWELLING Academy, which aims to address skills gaps in the blue economy. It supports the creation of training content with a focus on marine technologies and infrastructure and participates in the talent attraction strategy by engaging students, researchers, and professionals. In addition, INNOVALIA promotes industry–academia collaboration by offering internships and job placements, ensuring participants gain practical experience while contributing to the growth of the blue economy. INNOVALIA also supports the execution of the talent attraction strategy by engaging students, researchers, and professionals from eligible regions to participate in the Academy and Hackathons. It contributes to the analysis of participants, helping to categorize them according to skills and interests across blue economy sub-sectors, ensuring alignment with the most relevant Academy modules and Hackathons. Furthermore, INNOVALIA is responsible for organizing the Blue Tech and Ocean Observation Hackathon, working with project partners to ensure challenges are relevant, impactful, and aligned with the project’s overall objectives. This initiative helps participants acquire the skills and expertise needed to successfully progress to the Proof-of-Concept phase.
INNOVALIA plays a leading role in managing the UPWELLING Proof-of-Concept call for projects, aimed at supporting SMEs and startups developing innovative technologies in the blue economy. It oversees the preparation and launch of the call, ensuring alignment with targeted blue economy sub-sectors and project objectives. INNOVALIA also manages the application and selection process using its Evaluation Management System (EMS), ensuring transparency, traceability, and security. In addition, it selects qualified evaluators with expertise in marine technology and the blue economy and coordinates connections between selected SMEs/startups and the UPWELLING network of marine infrastructures, facilitating access to the resources required for successful Proof-of-Concept development.
THE PROJECT
Unlocking Potential for Workforce Excellence, Leadership, and Innovation in the Next-Gen Blue Economy
Start/ End: 09/2025 – 12/2027
FUNDING
The UPWELLING project (EAPA_0089/2024) is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme
CONSORTIUM
RELATED PROJECTS
