Online Learning Labs for Emerging Maritime Clusters
The “Learning Labs for Emerging Maritime Clusters” was a capacity-building programme designed
for Blue Economy professionals and future Maritime Cluster Managers across the Mediterranean
region.
Delivered under the CallMeBLUE initiative (Cluster Alliance MED Blue), an EMFAF-2023-PIA
flagship project co-funded by the European Union, the programme aimed to strengthen regional
cooperation, support north–south collaboration, and prepare professionals for the creation and
management of emerging maritime clusters in North Africa.
The Learning Labs provided practical knowledge on the legal, structural, administrative, and
strategic foundations required to develop and manage maritime clusters, while also introducing
participants to the Mediterranean maritime cluster ecosystem and its cross-border cooperation
dynamics.
Through a limited and balanced cohort of participants, the programme fostered knowledge
exchange, leadership development, and a shared understanding of how maritime clusters can drive
innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development in the Blue Economy.
- Definition and fundamentals of clusters
- Role of clusters in the Blue Economy
- Key ecosystem actors and interactions
- Legal frameworks for cluster creation
- Administrative structures and governance models
- Financial foundations for cluster establishment in the Maghreb
- Regional collaboration mechanisms
- Cross-border cluster development
- Strengthening north–south cooperation
- Leadership skills for cluster coordination
- Strategic management in Blue Economy contexts
- Stakeholder engagement and facilitation
- Real-life cluster organisation models
- Operational tools and management practices
- Best practices from existing clusters
- Experience sharing between regions
- Collaboration success stories
- Lessons learned for future cluster development
