MarTe: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics

Project title: MarTe: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics

Project's No: 101186498

Project acronym: MarTe

Funded by: European Commission – Horizon Europe, HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01. Nr. 101186498.

Project's partners: Sihtasutus Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus, Saare Development Centre, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool, Tartu Ulikool, Association Of Estonian Marine Industries, Mittetulundusühing Saarte Koostöökogu, Kurzemes Planosanas Regions, Latvijas Hidroekologijas Instituts, Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Biedriba Baltijas Krasti, Free Port Of Ventspils Authority, Latvijas Investiciju Un Attistibasagentura.

Project's duration: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2028

Project's total budget: Total project budget 4799525,00 EUR EUR, VUAS budget - 367850,00 EUR.

Project's summary:

The MarTe project aims to facilitate sustainable blue growth in the Baltic region by establishing 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 (WWF Latvia, Saarte Koostöökogu).

MarTe is dedicated to addressing environmental changes and enhancing regional economic development. The project will establish cross-border excellence hub to catalyse innovation, enhance the marine value chain, and encourage the adoption of new technologies. Project objectives include collaborative R&D in sustainable marine resource use, ecosystem empowerment, and policy influence. By leveraging quadruple-helix collaborations, MarTe aims to advance marine and maritime technologies, reinforce stakeholder linkages, improve ecosystem capacity building, close knowledge gaps, support SMEs and startups, and elevate the visibility of the Estonian-Latvian blue economy innovation ecosystems. The strategic framework focuses on areas like offshore energy, smart ports, and marine ecosystem protection, in alignment with EU Green Deal and regional smart specialization strategies.

Through a comprehensive approach encompassing stakeholder engagement, R&I strategy development, and capacity building,

MarTe strives for a significant impact on the sustainable blue economy in Baltics.

Latvia is represented in the project by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Kurzeme Planning Region, Latvian Institute of Hydroecology, Worldwide Fund for Nature, Baltic Coasts, Ventspils Freeport and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, while the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre is the lead partner and coordinator of the project.

Project Objectives:

• Strengthening Research and Innovation (R&I) Ecosystems: The project seeks to build robust and innovative institutions that support R&I in marine and maritime sectors, contributing to the sustainable growth of the blue economy. A key focus is improving research capabilities, retaining talent, and enhancing collaboration between Estonia and Latvia.
• Quadruple Helix Collaboration: MarTe emphasizes collaboration across academia, government, industry, and civil society. This approach aims to improve coordination along the maritime value chain and ensure sustainable linkages beyond the project's duration. The ultimate goal is the development and validation of R&I strategies, action plans, and investment plans.
• Conducting Joint Research and Knowledge Exchange: The project will perform joint research to fill knowledge gaps in marine technology and implement learning and skills development initiatives. An Excellence Hub will foster collaboration among scientists, industry professionals, and local communities. Four R&I projects on emerging marine technologies will address specific challenges within the ecosystem.
• Increasing Innovation Visibility: MarTe aims to raise the visibility of the Estonian-Latvian innovation ecosystem by organizing networking events, knowledge exchange sessions, and training programs. These efforts are expected to boost cross-sectoral collaboration, improve research capacities, and foster sustainable innovation.

Expected Results:

• Long-term R&I Strategy: The project will develop and implement a joint R&I strategy, supported by action and investment plans to guide future research and innovation in the marine sector.
• Scientific and Economic Impact: MarTe expects to produce at least three peer-reviewed publications and initiate four cross-sectoral R&I projects focused on developing new technologies for sustainable use of marine resources. These efforts will enhance Estonia and Latvia's competitiveness in the blue economy sector.
• Support for Startups and SMEs: The project will provide financial grants and mentoring to at least six start-ups and SMEs, enabling them to bring innovative solutions to market. This initiative is designed to overcome barriers to commercialization and support technology transfer.
• Policy Influence: MarTe will contribute to shaping regional and international policies by providing evidence-based recommendations for sustainable marine development. It will align its outputs with existing European and global frameworks, such as the EU Green Deal.

This project aims for significant societal, economic, and scientific impacts, fostering sustainable innovation in the marine and maritime sectors of Estonia and Latvia.

Contacts:

Project coordinator  

Vladislavs Bezrukovs, vladislavsb@venta.lv. Phone: +37127134283.

Project administrative manager:

Kristiāna Balode, kristiana.balode@venta.lv.