Blue economy

Building Innovation for a Sustainable Marine Future

The Blue Economy represents one of the world’s fastest growing engines for sustainable growth, harnessing the resources of the oceans to drive economic development, create jobs, and protect fragile marine ecosystems. At the University of Haifa, through the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and Haifa Innovation Labs (HIL), we are leading Israel’s efforts to develop an ecosystem for marine innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied research.

 

The Blue Economy Incubation Program

The BlueSpark Incubation Program is a joint initiative of the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and HIL. This hands-on pre-accelerator is designed to train and support entrepreneurs, students, and professionals in developing impact-driven ventures in the marine and coastal fields.

  • The program includes 11 weekly sessions, combining academic knowledge with practical tools.

  • Participants explore principles of the blue economy, which emphasize economic growth alongside marine environmental protection.

  • Training is based on methodologies adapted from the EU SwitchMed Program, focusing on building green business models and circular economy solutions.

  • The program culminates in a Demo Day, where teams present their ventures to an audience of experts and stakeholders.

In its recent cycle, 17 teams entered the program, and 10 ventures reached the Demo Day stage, showcasing innovative solutions in areas such as sustainable aquaculture, marine data systems, eco-tourism, and coastal resilience.

 

Program Objectives

  • Empower Entrepreneurs – Equip participants with academic and practical tools to design sustainable marine ventures.

  • Strengthen Academia–Industry Collaboration – Bring together students, researchers, corporations, and public organizations to co-create solutions.

  • Create Impact – Address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by advancing solutions in clean energy, food security, biodiversity protection, and sustainable shipping.

  • Position the University of Haifa as a National Hub – Establish Haifa as Israel’s leading center for Blue Economy innovation and research, bridging academia, industry, and government.

 

Impact Areas

  • Environmental Impact – Developing technologies for sustainable fisheries, renewable marine energy, coral reef restoration, water purification, and pollution reduction.

  • Social Impact – Generating new employment opportunities, improving quality of life in coastal communities, and advancing marine education and public awareness.

  • Economic Impact – Building ventures with potential for international growth and contributing to Israel’s position in the global blue economy market (valued at over $3 trillion annually).

 

Pathways for Entrepreneurs

The program serves as a first launchpad for teams. Promising ventures are offered continued support and connections to advanced acceleration tracks, including:

  • HIL Accelerators and partner programs (Israeli National Center of Blue Economy, The Dock, Carmel Ltd and more)

  • Integration with industry partners and Alpha Sites (ports, shipping companies, regulators) for real-world piloting

  • Access to the National Center of Blue Economy for further development and scaling

 

Why Now?

Israel’s maritime domain is larger than its land territory and holds immense untapped potential. From desalinated water (55% of Israel’s non-agricultural water use) and natural gas production to shipping (99% of international trade) and marine biodiversity, the sea is critical to Israel’s environmental and economic resilience. The BlueSpark  accelerator prepares the next generation of innovators to tackle these urgent challenges, transforming research and ideas into ventures that make a real-world impact.