| TOMORROW.BLUE ECONOMY WORLD CONGRESS |

This session will present the results of the New Latitude programme, the Port of Barcelona’s open innovation initiative which aims to connect corporations and start-ups in order to solve real problems in the port and maritime industries. The session showcases how defined challenges are translated into validated solutions through collaboration with ecosystem partners.

This session will present the results of Lighthouse, the international startup acceleration programme run by BlueTechPort and the Port of Barcelona. It will present key success cases and insights gained from the acceleration process.

This panel will explore how ports are transforming their innovation models to foster smarter, more connected, and resilient ecosystems. It will highlight the role of innovation hubs in connecting startups, companies, research institutions, and other key stakeholders to accelerate collaboration, experimentation, and the development of new solutions.

Effective governance is essential to building coastal urban resilience, the ability of a coastal cities and regions to govern, plan, and transform its territory to anticipate, withstand, and adapt territorial and socio-economic risks. The Barcelona Manifesto, a global roadmap designed to promote science- and data-based solutions for coastal urban resilience built on the specific perspectives, views and needs of local and supralocal governments.

A fast-paced showcase of emerging solutions for smarter, more sustainable and connected ports.

Ports are evolving into strategic innovation platforms that bring together logistics, energy, technology and industry. Beyond infrastructure, they are becoming ecosystems where capital, technology and industry converge to drive innovation with real-world impact at scale. This session will explore how strategic investments in port innovation can generate economic returns, boost industrial competitiveness and create sustainable impacts. The panel will also discuss how ports can establish themselves as attractive locations for innovation-driven growth and the creation of long-term value.

A fast-paced showcase of emerging solutions for smarter, more sustainable and connected ports.

The ocean economy is often described as one of the world’s greatest untapped opportunities. But how much of that potential is translating into viable businesses, credible returns and measurable impact? A candid opening conversation on where the market stands today and what must change next.

Blended finance is attracting growing interest as a way to address the blue economy’s financing gaps. This session will examine how it is being used across different sectors, stages of company development, funding stages, and larger projects and financing structures. We will look at where it is successfully mobilizing additional private capital, what can be learned from those examples, and how those lessons can inform more effective, repeatable and scalable financing models.

Climate and environmental risks are already affecting coastal infrastructure, maritime operations and ocean-dependent businesses. The conversation will explore how insurance, risk modelling and innovative financial products can protect assets, reward prevention and strengthen the investment case for resilience.

The blue finance landscape is evolving quickly, with new funds, instruments and investor priorities shaping where capital flows. A concise market overview will highlight the sectors attracting attention, the gaps that remain and the signals likely to influence investment over the next five years.

Not every promising idea will become an investable opportunity. Investors will share where they see the strongest prospects across the blue economy, which business models are likely to gain traction and what separates a compelling pitch from a fundable proposition.

Promising solutions cannot scale without customers ready to adopt them. The panel will examine how corporate procurement, public purchasing and demand from ports and cities can move blue technologies from pilot projects to recurring contracts.

At a time when the merits and demands of the blue economy and ocean responsibility are gaining attention and awareness, there are still a series of gaps in the intersection of corporate and investor roles and the supporting ecosystem. In an effort to solve these gaps and to create a better framework for partnership and impact, a unique collaboration resulted in a NY Climate Week event that is moving forward. Join this panel of initiative founders and firestarters to take the action to the next step and provide your own vision for growing this movement.

Scaling ocean solutions depends on more than a strong idea or available capital. Innovators need organisations ready to adopt proven solutions, while enablers need funders willing to support implementation and growth. Using the octopus and its three hearts as a framework, participants will identify where replication breaks down and build the connections needed to move successful solutions into new markets.

BlueFIN/ SOS Delegates and WOC members only - Join us for the WOC Member and Alumni Gathering and Drinks Reception, taking place alongside the BlueFIN Drinks Reception in The Market, a private space within Fira Barcelona where the WOC BlueFIN and SOS conferences will be held. This informal gathering offers a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet fellow WOC members and alumni, and forge new connections across the global ocean business and finance community

Marine restoration and biodiversity protection are attracting growing interest from governments, businesses and investors, but viable models remain difficult to build. The conversation will examine where commercial activity can support nature recovery, how outcomes can be measured and what is needed to move beyond isolated projects.

A rapid-fire showcase of 9-10 start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Brief announcements highlighting new partnerships, projects and opportunities emerging through the World Ocean Council network.

This session will present the new Barcelona Blue Economy Strategy 2026–2030, outlining the city’s roadmap to strengthen its position as a leading hub Blue Economy. The first part will introduce the key priorities, strategic axes and flagship initiatives of the new strategy. This will be followed by a roundtable bringing together key actors of the blue ecosystem to discuss how they are contributing to its implementation and how collaboration across science, businesses and governments can drive tangible impact.

A rapid-fire showcase of start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Brief announcements highlighting new partnerships, projects and opportunities emerging through the World Ocean Council network.

A rapid-fire showcase of 9-10 start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Brief insights from key actors from Barcelona and internationally showcasing existing tools, initiatives and approaches to accelerate the development and scaling of blue economy solutions. The session will highlight practical mechanisms for technology transfer, funding access, venture building and global deployment, addressing key barriers to scaling and connecting innovation with market opportunities.

Barcelona Activa’s CONNECTIO platform brings together blue economy corporations with specific innovation challenges and startups offering market ready solutions. The conversation will explore how real business needs can be translated into collaboration opportunities, pilot projects and clear pathways towards adoption.

Building directly on the previous conversation, corporates and startups will take part in a series of structured ten minute meetings focused on identifying potential collaborations, pilot projects and deployment opportunities. Applications to participate will open in early October.

The Sustainable Ocean Summit opens with a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping the future of the ocean economy. From climate pressure and biodiversity loss to innovation, investment and political ambition, the exchange will consider where progress is being made, where it is falling short and what leadership is now needed.

mCDR has the potential to play a significant role alongside rapid emissions reductions. This discussion will highlight the key advancements in the sector over the past 12 months, explore what credible market readiness looks like, and consider the main barriers that remain..

The maritime and marine sector has set ambitious energy transition targets, but progress often remains uneven across fuels, technologies, infrastructure and policy. The panel will take stock of what is already changing, where momentum is still typically lacking and what can be done next to help accelerate the transition.

As electric propulsion expands across recreational and small commercial vessels, certification and regulatory compliance remain key barriers to wider adoption. The discussion will explore how industry can navigate evolving technical requirements, reduce uncertainty around approval processes and create clearer pathways for bringing electric vessels to market.

The circular economy offers a way to reduce waste, keep materials in use and ease pressure on marine ecosystems, but progress remains fragmented. This presentation will examine where circular models are already delivering results, what continues to limit wider adoption and how industry can move from isolated initiatives to lasting change.

Blue food is gaining attention as a source of nutrition, economic opportunity and lower-impact food production. Yet questions remain around sustainability, affordability and whether the sector can grow without placing further pressure on marine ecosystems. The discussion will explore where genuine potential lies and what responsible growth could look like.

Introducing the Coastal Resilience Scorecard, the flagship tool for the Centre of Excellence for Coastal Resilience, multi-sector participants will learn how the Scorecard helps assess preparedness, identify critical gaps in resilience planning, policy and finance, and set priorities for action.

Cabo Verde is positioning its blue economy as a driver of sustainable growth, with maritime infrastructure, nautical tourism and port development creating new opportunities for investment and partnership. This conversation will explore the country’s priorities and emerging pipeline, using marina and maritime infrastructure projects as practical examples of where private capital, operators and development partners can play a role. It will also look at what is needed to move from national ambition to investable projects, stronger partnerships and long-term economic value.This panel will explore where blue innovation is already taking shape, which local solutions are ready to grow, and how leaders across government, finance, industry and entrepreneurship can mobilise the skills, capital and cross‑border partnerships needed to turn shared maritime challenges into shared opportunity.

Renewing the capacity of marine and coastal systems to generate value instead of merely sustaining it. A great vision! How do we achieve it practically? WIBE is the network for women shaping the blue economy. A space for female leaders and community shapers to connect, share experiences, and opportunities.

Moving beyond clean-up, this presentation will examine how regulation, product design, monitoring and business innovation can prevent waste and harmful materials from reaching the marine environment.

Coastal cities are already facing the effects of rising seas, extreme weather and increasing pressure on infrastructure and communities. The challenge is no longer simply recognising the risks, but deciding what to prioritise and how to act. The panel will explore how cities are translating resilience plans into practical measures, mobilising investment and working across departments and sectors to protect people, assets and coastal ecosystems.

This session will explore how training, employment services and industry demand are being aligned to develop the talent needed for the blue economy. It will highlight practical approaches to skills development, workforce transition and career pathways in maritime and port-related sectors.

Leading organisations from across the blue economy will introduce their work, workplace culture and current talent needs. The presentations will give professionals and students an insight into the range of career paths available across the sector and help participants prepare for the networking and interviews that follow.

Following the company presentations, candidates will have the opportunity to meet participating employers through informal networking and a series of interviews. Designed for professionals, students, junior candidates and people looking to reskill, the activity will create direct connections with companies seeking talent across the blue economy.

Policy can create direction and reduce uncertainty, but project still need clear revenue models, capable sponsors and a route to market before capital will move. The conversation will examine how we can help turn ambition into a credible pipeline of investable ocean projects.

Policy sets the direction, industry turns ambition into action and finance determines what can move at scale. Yet these three forces do not always work at the same pace or towards the same priorities. The panel will examine where alignment is improving, where gaps continue to hold progress back and what each group needs from the others to accelerate delivery.

Growth and decarbonisation can create new opportunities across the ocean economy, but the costs and benefits will not be shared automatically. The conversation will consider what a just transition means for workers, coastal communities and smaller businesses, and how social outcomes can be built into the sector’s transformation.

The maritime sector is changing rapidly, but its future will depend on the people working at sea. Bringing together seafarer perspectives, the panel will examine working conditions, wellbeing, skills, technology and the impact of the green transition, while asking what must change to ensure that progress across the industry also delivers for its workforce.

AI, data and ocean intelligence are changing how we understand, monitor and manage the marine environment. Yet questions remain around data quality, access, cost and practical application. The conversation will examine where these tools are already delivering value, where expectations may be running ahead of reality and what is needed to support better decisions.