The Blue Economy Working Group (GEA) driven by the Canary Island Government Research, Innovation and Information Society Agency (ACIISI) to promote growth of the blue economy, one of the priority sectors of the Canary Island Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), held its first working meeting with the presence of the Canary Island Government Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge, Pedro Ortega.

This group was set up initially by a range of public and private entities related to marine-maritime R+D+i, such as the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO), the Canary Island Institute of Technology (ITC), the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the University of La Laguna (ULL), the Canary Island Oceanic Platform (PLOCAN), the Marine Sciences Technology Centre (CETECIMA) and the Canary Island Maritime Cluster (CMC), with institutional representatives and technicians from each of these bodies attending this first meeting.

The Canary Island Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge opened the meeting by highlighting the competitive edges that the Canary Islands enjoy for intensifying and leading blue economy-related R+D+i. Manuel Miranda, director of the ACIISI, and Manuel Lopez Gulias, head of the R+D+i area of the ACIISI, offered a summary of the actions of the Canary Island Government in the context of the blue economy: relations with the RIS3, budgets, actions, sources of funding like the ITI, calls for projects and participation.

CETECIMA director, José Luis Guersi, gave a preview of some of the data and conclusions of the study entitled “Approach to the blue economy in Canaries” that the agency is completing. One conclusion is that the blue economy has a 3x1 multiplier effect, with its contribution estimated at 6.5% of regional GDP and 6.8% in terms of jobs.

Octavio Llinás, director of PLOCAN, moderated the discussion on which strategy the GEA should follow, proposing a methodology and work plan based on the pilot project on “Blue Growth” that PLOCAN is currently designing as part of the RIS3_Net project of the Interreg MAC 2014-2020 call for projects, co-funded by ERDF funds.

As a conclusion to the meeting, several work groups were set up for specific issues, along with a set of milestones to reach next year.