The presence of scientific partners such as the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) is essential to ensure a sustainable ocean economy based on knowledge and innovation.
Barcelona has been chosen to host the world’s first Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC) dedicated specifically to the blue economy. This international centre will address Challenge 4 of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030): to develop a sustainable, resilient, and equitable ocean economy.
The Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) is part of the scientific core of the project, providing expertise in marine research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. Alongside partners such as BlueNetCat, the Government of Catalonia, the Port of Barcelona, and the Barcelona City Council, ICM-CSIC will actively contribute to developing and implementing this initiative.
Valentí Sallarès, Director of ICM-CSIC, states:
"This centre is a major opportunity to translate scientific evidence into political and economic action in a field as strategic as the blue economy. ICM will contribute its scientific expertise and international network to ensure that marine economic development is guided by sustainability and social justice.”
The new centre, coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, will operate at least until 2030 and will be located at the headquarters of the Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation, which will oversee its operations.
A global centre with a transformative mission
The DCC will focus its work on three major strategic pillars. First, it aims to generate new scientific knowledge around the blue economy to inform policymaking and business decisions. Second, it will promote innovation in key sectors such as marine biotechnology, renewable energy, sustainable maritime transport, and responsible coastal tourism. Finally, it will foster the creation of international partnerships and alliances among academia, the public sector, and private stakeholders to accelerate the sustainable transformation of the ocean economy.
Among the centre’s flagship initiatives are the creation of the world’s first repository of scalable blue economy projects, support for events such as Tomorrow Blue Economy, the development of an international knowledge network, and the launch of an Impact Investment Fund based in Barcelona.
A growing maritime ecosystem
ICM-CSIC is also leading the development of the future Barcelona Sea of Science, an ocean Living Lab for social transformation and citizen engagement, closely linked to the blue economy and planned to open at the Olympic Port between 2027 and 2028. This facility, together with the Barcelona Maritime Technology Park and BlueTechPort, will help consolidate Barcelona as a European hub for sustainable ocean economy.
At the Institute of Marine Sciences, we celebrate this milestone, which reinforces the role of scientific research in transforming marine economies and promoting a more sustainable future for the ocean and coastal communities around the world.