The BlueForum is an initiative of MARIN to promote the smart and sustainable use of environment in the maritime sector, from energy to transport. The main objective is to bring together the actors that will enable an efficient implementation of the energy transition. Those actors are the industry, the research institutes and universities, the authorities. In order to reach such goal, we propose a serie of presentations on ongoing innovations and projects and we provide a open platform (the Forum) to pitch new Joint Industry Project (JIP) Initiatives. Those pitches will hopefully allow the start of such collaborative projects, where participants can join force in research & development at pre-competitive level.

The themes developed in the forum are:

• Renewable Ocean Energy (tidal, waves, floating wind, floating solar)
• Blue Life (use of the ocean for sustainable farming, fishing, biomass production, ocean life protection, sustainable human activities at sea)
• Natural Propulsion technologies (use of environmental forces such as wind, solar, water),
• Zero Emission transport and shipping.

The forum focuses intentionally on disruptive technologies and post-transition solutions. The forum takes place physically during the BlueWeek, which is organised yearly. The location varies every year, one year in the Netherlands and the other year in a different country. We privileged harbours and maritime cities for the choice of the location.  Any interested parties are welcome to propose their location to host the event, just contact us. As non-profit fondation, we do our upmost to keep the costs limited. As a matter of fact, we try to find for each forum a location that can ideally be provided free of charge. A limited fee, evaluated per year, can however be applied to make sure that the event gets self-financed for commodities and lunches. The organisation is provided free of charge by MARIN personnel and by the local host.

Existing JIP’s can also use the BlueWeek to organise their progress meetings with their members. Rooms at the location of BlueWeek will be made available for you free of charge. To check the eligibility of your project progress meeting or event to the BlueWeek, please contact us early as possible.

The partners below have hosted the BlueWeek in previous years.

If you wish to become a BlueFamily member by hosting, co-hosting or sponsoring the event, please contact us!