UPCT leads a European project on marine renewable energies and healthy fishing practices
Researchers and entrepreneurs in the Region of Murcia will have access to a platform to test innovative coastal power generation systems using renewable sources such as the sun, wind, tides, and currents. The Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) is promoting this development of the so-called “blue economy” within the framework of the European project MED-Hubs, which was presented this morning at the UPCT’s CIM campus.
The project, funded with 1.5 million euros by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) of the European Commission, is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena and includes partners from Italy, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as participation from the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia and the Regional Government of Murcia (CARM), which will provide researchers with access to five regional ports, as announced this morning by Pablo Marín, Director General of Coastline and Ports.
The project’s goal is to develop the economic potential of sustainable initiatives, aiming to accelerate business ideas and startups within the blue economy sector. One example being developed by the Italian researchers in the consortium involves the use of Artificial Intelligence and blockchain technologies in small-scale fisheries to integrate catch recognition systems and digital fish traceability.
The project’s lead, with a 24-month execution period and a budget of nearly half a million euros allocated to the Polytechnic University, is José Enrique Gutiérrez, a researcher at the UPCT’s School of Naval and Ocean Engineering. The project’s full name and code are:
Mediterranean Blue Economy Hubs: Maritime Innovation for Smart Specialisation (EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3).