PREP4BLUE D5.1: Critical assessment and key recommendations for Interregional financing

Deliverable 5.1 presents an in-depth analysis of the Smart Specialisation Strategy priorities of key
European regions and their alignment with EU Mission Ocean’s objectives. Further, it analyses what
the most promising areas for further action in support of Mission Ocean are and how these can be
pursued. The report also presents EU-level initiatives and funding opportunities for interregional
collaboration, supporting regions interested in innovating their blue policies in understanding how to
make use of existing opportunities and ground them in their regional policymaking. It analyses,
compares and benchmarks the funding mechanisms of selected regions in relation to blue
growth/sustainable blue economy and innovation to identify innovative inner- and interregional
funding and methods to accelerate reaching the objectives of Mission Ocean by 2030. The report also
lists promising EU funding and support mechanisms for regions and provides examples of how to use
the new ERDF Interregional Innovation Instrument (I3) to support regions in accelerating market
uptake of pilots and demonstrations in support of Mission Ocean’s objectives. Finally, the report
presents case studies to illustrate successful interregional collaboration opportunities and inspire
further collaboration between regional stakeholders.