The series will be of 3 webinars taking place from 2^nd November to 4^th November with a webinar each day from 10am to 11:30am (UK time). Following the webinars, we will be organizing roundtables focusing on key sub-sectors giving businesses a platform to share best practices.

Webinar 1: 2nd November 2021 – Introduction and Overview to the Blue Economy

According to the World Bank, the Blue Economy represents roughly 5.4 million jobs and generate a Gross Added Value of almost €500 billion a year. In this first webinar, we will provide an overview of the key sectors part of the Blue Economy and study the sub-sector trends in the European Atlantic Area markets.

Speakers:

• Boris Teillant – Atlanpole

• Case Study: To be confirmed

Webinar 2: 3rd November – Accessing Business Support

Being part of a network is beneficial to businesses as it provides them with a platform to share and learn from one another. There are a wide range of business organisations which can provide business support and advice, with some focusing on supporting the maritime economy. From incubators to clusters and accelerators, these programmes not only provide opportunities to develop through sharing of best practice, but also help to enhance the reputation of their brand.

Speakers:

• Chair: Giulia Sirigu – Inventya / Innovate UK EDGE

• Olna Zawalna-Geer – University of Exeter

• Boris Teillant – Atlanpole / European Business and Accelerators Network

• Clusters Representative – To be confirmed

Webinar 3: 4th November 2021 – Overview of the Funding Landscape: Focus on Private Funding Opportunities

According to the Credit Suisse, the ocean is today one of the least invested in all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially from private funding sources. Businesses in these sectors can face more difficulties accessing funding and investors are not always aware of opportunities offered by the Blue Economy. In this webinar, we will provide an overview of the options and alternatives available to businesses in the maritime economy and we will hear about companies having gone through these options.

Speakers:

• Chair: Saq Rasul – University of Manchester

• Yoann Nesme – Orange Bird Crowdfunding

• Andrew Smith – Greenbackers Capital Investment

• Javier Fraga Díaz – Abanca Mar

If you would like to be involved or if you have any questions, please contact Pauline.Puig@gmchamber.co.uk. You can register for the event via this link.