At NTU International A/S, we are closely following the discussions and outcomes of 2-6 March European Ocean Days 2026, which bring together policymakers, experts and stakeholders to shape the future of Europe’s ocean governance and sustainable blue economy.

The insights emerging from this important forum—on maritime governance, skills, sustainability and international cooperation—strongly resonate with the work we are implementing across our maritime portfolio.

A key example is our EU-funded Seafarers Technical Assistance project in the Philippines, implemented under the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE). Through this initiative, NTU International and its partners support improvements in maritime education and training, certification systems, and compliance with international conventions such as STCW and the Maritime Labour Convention.

NTU International attended a panel discussion on “Empowering Blue Competitiveness: How EU instruments drive innovation and growth in the blue economy” as part of the European Ocean Days. The discussion brought together representatives from the European Commission, investment institutions, industry and innovation ecosystems.

A few key takeaways stood out.

The ocean economy is already a major global sector, accounting for around 3-4% of global GDP and supporting more than 120 million jobs worldwide.

While the sector has grown steadily, much of this growth has been driven by increased capital investment rather than efficiency gains, highlighting the importance of boosting productivity, innovation and digitalisation in the coming years.

Growth in the blue economy has been geographically uneven, with Asia-Pacific driving most of the expansion, while Europe maintains strong leadership in high-value maritime industries, such as advanced shipbuilding and maritime technologies.

A recurring theme across the panel was the “scale-up gap” in Europe. While the region produces strong research, startups and innovative solutions, many companies struggle to access the risk capital and market scale needed to grow globally.

Participants emphasised that the future competitiveness of the blue economy will depend on:
• accelerating decarbonisation and energy transition
• scaling up digital and ocean technologies
• improving access to finance and investment
• strengthening public-private collaboration and innovation ecosystems

The overall message was clear: Europe has the knowledge, technology and talent to lead in the blue economy, but unlocking its full potential will require better alignment of policy, funding and industry collaboration.

At NTU International, we are pleased to engage in these discussions and continue contributing to initiatives that support sustainable and competitive blue economy development worldwide.