Blue Economy Acceleration (Ministry of the Sea) Grant
In context
This call is open to startups and small and medium-sized businesses, at prototype and pilot stage and seed stage. Coverage is read from the notice itself: Portugal, the European Union and any country.
A competitive acceleration programme by Portugal's Ministry of the Sea selecting 15 startups to develop 23 pilot projects in blue economy sectors including aquaculture, renewable energy, fisheries, and maritime transport, with international partners across 11 countries.
About this grant
Bluetech is an acceleration and innovation program supported by the Portugal Blue Digital Hub and led by Fórum Oceano, aimed at transforming the Blue Ecosystem through collaborative innovation and sustainable development. The program supports digital and environmental transitions, entrepreneurship, and the testing of advanced technologies including AI, Blockchain, and Big Data solutions. Bluetech operates across Portugal's diverse regions—from north to south, islands to mainland—and sources solutions from across Europe to address unique local challenges within the blue economy. The program promotes balanced regional development and supports Portugal's commitment to environmental and digital transformation. Bluetech operates through multiple program streams including an Acceleration program that fast-tracks innovative startups with mentorship, resources, and network support; Blue Bridge, which connects blue economy startups and SMEs with industry partners; and various open innovation editions focused on specific sectors and regions such as maritime innovation, water management, and leisure tourism.
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Eligibility
The program targets startups and SMEs operating within blue economy sectors across Portugal and Europe. Specific regional editions exist for Madeira & Azores and Alentejo & Centro regions. The main Acceleration program, initiated by the Portuguese Ministry of the Sea, selected 15 startups to develop pilot projects. Geographic focus is primarily Portugal with solutions sourced from across Europe.
Key requirements
- ✓Startup or early-stage company in blue economy sectors
- ✓Ability to develop and execute a pilot project with international partners
- ✓Project must align with one or more upstream focus areas: aquaculture, blue-biotechnology, blue-renewable-energy, ocean-observation, fisheries, shipbuilding, maritime-transport, or water-management
Recent past awardees
Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.
- 15 selected startups (Ministry of the Sea program)
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for Blue Economy Acceleration (Ministry of the Sea)?
- Eligibility covers organisations in PT, EU, GLOBAL; startup, sme. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
How this compares
- Compared with 11 similar grants (ocean in Portugal) listed in the last 12 months.
- The same organisation listed 6 other similar grants here in the last 12 months.
Closest open grants
Figures are computed from notices listed on Raise Lens in the same sector and country over the last 12 months.
About this sector
Ocean and blue economy funding covers marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, coastal resilience and ocean technology. Support comes from public research bodies, development finance and ocean-focused foundations. Calls often favour projects that involve coastal communities and that can be monitored at sea.
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