Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics

The MarTe project aims to facilitate sustainable blue growth in the Baltic region by establishing an Estonian and Latvian marine and maritime innovation ecosystem Excellence Hub. This will be achieved through the collaboration of diverse stakeholders, including academic institutions (TalTech, University of Tartu), government agencies (Environmental Investment Centre, Kurzeme Planning Region), industries (Association of Estonian Marine Industries, Port of Ventspils), and civil society organizations (WWF Latvia, Saarte Koostöökogu). MarTe is dedicated to addressing environmental changes and enhancing regional economic development. The project will establish a cross-border Excellence Hub to catalyze innovation, enhance the marine value chain, and promote the adoption of new technologies. Project objectives include collaborative RD in sustainable marine resource use, ecosystem empowerment, and policy influence. By leveraging quadruple-helix collaborations, MarTe aims to advance marine and maritime technologies, strengthen stakeholder linkages, improve ecosystem capacity building, close knowledge gaps, support SMEs and startups, and elevate the visibility of Estonian-Latvian blue economy innovation ecosystems. The strategic framework focuses on areas such as offshore energy, smart ports, and marine ecosystem protection, aligning with the EU Green Deal and regional smart specialization strategies. Through a comprehensive approach encompassing stakeholder engagement, RI strategy development, and capacity building, MarTe strives to make a significant impact on the sustainable blue economy in the Baltic region.