MED BLUEfasma

Project short description

BLUEfasma integrates and implements Circular Economy (CE) principles in the key blue growth sector of fishing/aquaculture to benefit MED insular/coastal areas in a novel/innovative way. Project team tackles the transnational challenge of continual depletion of natural resources and the below-EU-average MED CE innovation performance in fishing/aquaculture. Its overall objective is to empower innovation capacity of SMEs, maritime clusters/networks, PAs to boost blue CE growth in insular/coastal areas. CE prevents depletion of resources by closing energy & materials loops, leading to smart/sustainable growth as a key MED joint asset. Currently PAs/SMEs are cautious to embrace CE practices, which PAs perceive as cumbersome & SMEs as non-profitable. BLUEfasma is a European project in the framework of Interreg MED 2014-2020 Programme co-finance by the European Regional Development Fund and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

BLUEfasma approach will change current thinking on circularity by:

• replicating effective CE work (eg in efficient use of waste & by-products), mainly from North-EU&MED projects;
• testing the upgraded circularity self-assessment tool in 11 participating MED territories and monitoring business readiness/willingness to invest in R&I;
• organising BLUEfasma Living Labs & targeted transferring activities;
• shifting policy towards CE;
• systematizing funding opportunities for blue CE innovation business investment.

• Main outputs:
  – BLUEfasma online platform
  – BLUEfasma Living Labs
  – BLUEfasma Capacity Building Instrument
  – Capitalization events
• The outputs will increase innovation capacity and transnational activities among blue actors of Inter. MED Community.