European Commission Open Call: Blue Careers for a Sustainable Blue Economy

The European Commission (EC) is calling for proposals for Blue Careers for a Sustainable Blue Economy.

Objectives

• The overall aim of this Call is to contribute to the development of the next generation of blue skills and to provide opportunities for attractive, sustainable maritime careers. The objective is to develop the necessary skillsets to support the European Green Deal initiatives promoting a sustainable blue economy, e.g. the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy, the EU Offshore Renewable Energy strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP).

• More specifically, this Call aims to support innovative cooperation projects, bringing together the blue economy industry and relevant marine and maritime educational/academic institutions and/or vocational training providers at all levels (local, regional, national, transnational), and other stakeholders to promote:

• Green and digital blue skills, professions and careers as well as the acquisition of transversal and inter/multidisciplinary skills and competences to further boost the digitalisation and greening of jobs, also by promoting the use of competences frameworks, such as GreenComp and DigComp.

• Reskilling and upskilling schemes and cooperation between education and industry to support the active labour force to acquire the necessary environmental and sustainability skills and become acquainted with modern standards, principles and practices.

• "Blue careers" awareness and attractiveness among students and young professionals, in an attempt to attract and retain new talent and counter human capital depletion because of an aging labour force.

Themes and Priorities (scope)

Proposals should address at least one of the themes below, or a combination thereof:

• Developing innovative educational material, skills development modules, content, learning outcomes and curriculum, such as micro-credentials, to build and enhance digital, green, soft, transversal, interdisciplinary, managerial and entrepreneurial and project management skills;

• Developing and piloting innovative teaching and training approaches (at both higher education and VET levels) and promoting career development in any sector of the sustainable blue economy, including but not limited to:

• aquaculture, algae, marine and coastal habitats conservation, blue biotechnology,

• eco-tourism, coastal protection, offshore renewable energy, marine knowledge, port activities, ocean monitoring, shipbuilding, maritime and underwater technologies, sustainable cruise tourism, digital skills for ocean observation, etc.

Funding Information

The available call budget is EUR 7 500 000. This budget might be increased by maximum 20%.