ENTREBLUE

Selected under Topic 1: EIT-HEI-2025-STEM-CAPACITY-BUILDING, ENTREBLUE supports Higher Education Institutions in becoming stronger innovation engines for the European maritime sector. The project focuses on helping maritime and STEM-focused institutions translate technical knowledge, research outputs, and student talent into market-facing innovations, start-ups, and skills ecosystems.

At the centre of ENTREBLUE is a network of Inclusive, women-led Maritime-STEM Innovation Accelerators and Growth platforms. These platforms will connect entrepreneurship training, IP support, mentoring, shared R&I infrastructures, industry challenges, public-private investment pilots, and access to maritime innovation testbeds. The project gives particular attention to women and underrepresented groups in maritime STEM, where participation remains structurally low.

ENTREBLUE will also develop maritime STEM innovation and entrepreneurship microcredentials, support hybrid internships with maritime industry actors, and help start-ups and high-TRL innovation teams test and validate solutions in areas such as digital twins, remotely operated systems, IoT, AI, cybersecurity, cleantech, advanced materials, and human-centric maritime technologies. By linking HEIs, industry, investors, public authorities, civil society, and EIT KIC resources, the project aims to strengthen Europe’s blue economy, reduce territorial disparities, and attract international STEM talent to European maritime innovation ecosystems.