The Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) published two calls for proposals under the 2016 Work Programme of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund: “Blue careers in Europe” and “Blue labs: innovative solutions for maritime challenges”.

BLUE CAREERS IN EUROPE

The call aims at bridging the skills gap in the field of blue economy, by supporting activities that increase employability of different target groups (students, workers, unemployed, etc) as well as the visibility and attractiveness of different career opportunities for young people.

Candidates must be active in the fields of education, training, labour or blue economy and related areas. Examples of potential applicants are:

• educational and training institutions;
• higher education institutions;
• public or private, small, medium or large enterprises;
• chambers of commerce, of industry, of skilled crafts or of labour, and other intermediary bodies;
• maritime clusters having their own legal personality;
• research centres;
• non-profit organisations (private or public);
• public authorities (national, regional, local);
• federations and associations.

Proposals must be submitted by a partnership of minimum 2 legal entities from EU Member States. The consortium should comprise at least:

a) one educational/training  organization  such  as  a  higher  education  institution,  a  secondary school/institute/educational centre, a public or private VET provider

and

b) one company or chamber of commerce, of industry, of skilled crafts or of labour, or other intermediary bodies.

The total budget for this call for proposals is 3.452 million euro.

The approved projects can receive funding between 500.000 and 700.000 euro, for a project duration of maximum 24 months.

 BLUE LABS – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR MARITIME CHALLENGES

The goal of this action is promoting innovative “laboratories” – Blue Labs – to pilot new ideas addressing the following challenges and opportunities in the blue economy.

• blue (bio)remediations;
• marine litter;
• underwater cultural heritage;
• invasive alien species and jelly fish proliferation.

The Blue Labs concept unites research and commercial exploitation so that results from research are taken forward to the market.

In order to ensure the EU added value of supported activities, the development of solutions has to be focused on one or more sea basins surrounding the EU coasts (Mediterranean, Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea).

Applicants must be active in research, marine, maritime affairs or any other relevant field for the project. Examples of potential applicants are:

• non-profit organizations (private or public);
• public authorities (national, regional, local);
• universities;
• educational and training institutions;
• research centres;
• public or private, small, medium or large enterprises;
• federations and associations;
• Fisheries Local Action Groups.

The consortium should include a minimum of 2 organizations, comprising at least:

a) one scientific/research  body/institution

and

b) one private entity or public entity.

These organizations have to be established in an EU Member State. Additional partners from EU and third countries are allowed. Third countries eligible for this call are located on the borders of the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean sea basins and participate in the respective cooperation frameworks (for full list, check the official call document).

The total budget available under this call is 1.700.000 euro.

The approved projects can receive funding between 200.000 and 500.000 euro, for a project duration of maximum 24 months.

The deadline for submission of proposals for both calls is 31 May 2016.

All official documents are available on the EASME website, in the sections dedicated to each call: Blue careers and Blue Labs.

Registration of participants is open for the Call Infoday that will take place in Brussels on 5^th of April; more information on the event can be found here.