The partners of the Blueskilling Innovation project (Interreg Atlantic Area) gathered in Lorient, France, for the 5th transnational project meeting, hosted by BPN – Bretagne Pôle Naval.
The two‑day event brought together organisations from across the Atlantic Area to advance the project’s mission of strengthening blue skills, boosting innovation capacity, and supporting the sustainable growth of the maritime sector.
Day 1 – Reviewing Progress and Aligning Next Steps
The meeting opened with a comprehensive review of the project’s progress, focusing on three key work packages:
- WP4 – Curricula Design & Update, led by Escuela de Ingeniería de Bilbao (EIB/BIE)
- WP5 – Pilot Projects, led by Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO)
- WP6 – Communication & Administrative Coordination, led by Basque Maritime Cluster
Partners engaged in productive discussions and shared valuable insights on training pathways, pilot implementation, and coordination actions. The dynamic exchanges set a solid foundation for the next stages of the project.
The working sessions took place in the vibrant maritime environment of Lorient, a city renowned for its strong industry clusters, innovation ecosystem, and port activity. The day concluded with site visits that provided partners with a first‑hand view of local blue‑economy initiatives.
Day 2 – Presenting Blueskilling Innovation at the Pro & Mer Employment Forum
On the second day, the consortium took part in the Pro & Mer Employment Forum, one of the region’s key events dedicated to maritime careers and workforce development. During the session, the project team presented how Blueskilling Innovation aims to:
- Strengthen skills for the blue economy
- Connect companies with training centres
- Align labour‑market needs with the emerging opportunities of blue technologies
Partners engaged with maritime professionals, training organisations, and young talents shaping the sector’s future. These exchanges highlighted the project’s relevance as a tool to support innovation, employability, and collaboration within the Atlantic Area.
