Research, innovation and higher education to boost cross-border Blue Economy in the Mediterranean Region

The world ocean is the largest existing ecosystem on our planet. Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, carry out about 50% of global primary production and support the greatest biodiversity. They are also one of the largest carbon reservoirs in the Earth’s system, holding up to 54 times more carbon than the atmosphere. The oceans, seas and inland waters are therefore very important to regulate the Earth’s system, supply living and non-living resources and provide social and economic goods and services. Water gives life and provides humanity with food, energy, oxygen and regulates climate, but can take life away as well, when its scarcity leads to hunger and poverty and when its excess causes floods, landslides, and extreme hydrogeological instability. Besides natural risks, anthropogenic activities are damaging the planet by overexploitation, leading to the depletion of natural resources, destruction of ecosystems and pollution, causing socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and therefore it is fundamental to reverse the process and maintain an ecological balance to benefit from the myriad opportunities that emerge from nature and oceans. As coastal nations, much of Mediterranean countries’ social and economic activities rely on marine resources and maritime services. Many countries however are facing severe social problems and suffering economic challenges along with serious threats such as geopolitical instability, economic crises, youth unemployment, climate change and sea-level rise, drought, and floods, amongst others. Youth unemployment is on the rise in the Mediterranean Basin. According to the Union for the Mediterranean (2021), “almost 60% of the regional population is today under the age of 30, and the number of young people under the age of 15 is forecasted to increase over 18%. This represents an asset for the region, and therefore, a positive and action-oriented regional agenda on youth employability is indispensable to unleash the region’s human and economic potential capital. As requisite for peace and stability in the region, priority actions must be built on promoting competitiveness and enhancing job opportunities, in particular for youth.” This paper focuses on the role of research, innovation and higher education in facilitating cooperation amongst countries in the blue economy sectors, promoting youth employability, and valorising investment conditions to ease the interconnection between governance, industry and academia.