3-5 NOV 2026
GRAN VIA VENUE – BARCELONA
3-5 NOV 2026
GRAN VIA VENUE – BARCELONA
By World Ocean Council
The Market
09:45 - 10:30
The maritime sector is changing rapidly, but its future will depend on the people working at sea. Bringing together seafarer perspectives, the panel will examine working conditions, wellbeing, skills, technology and the impact of the green transition, while asking what must change to ensure that progress across the industry also delivers for its workforce.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
10:30 - 11:00
Growth and decarbonisation can create new opportunities across the ocean economy, but the costs and benefits will not be shared automatically. The conversation will consider what a just transition means for workers, coastal communities and smaller businesses, and how social outcomes can be built into the sector’s transformation.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
11:00 –11:30
Coffee Break
(SOS delegates only)
11:30 - 12:15
Policy sets the direction, industry turns ambition into action and finance determines what can move at scale. Yet these three forces do not always work at the same pace or towards the same priorities. The panel will examine where alignment is improving, where gaps continue to hold progress back and what each group needs from the others to accelerate delivery.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
12:15 -13:00
AI, data and ocean intelligence are changing how we understand, monitor and manage the marine environment. Yet questions remain around data quality, access, cost and practical application. The conversation will examine where these tools are already delivering value, where expectations may be running ahead of reality and what is needed to support better decisions.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
13:00 - 13:45
Promising solutions cannot scale without customers ready to adopt them. The panel will examine how corporate procurement, public purchasing and demand from ports and cities can move blue technologies from pilot projects to recurring contracts.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
13:45 - 14:00
Closing / Wrap-up
by Port of Barcelona
TBE Plaza
09:45 - 10:30
North Africa and the Middle East are home to fast-growing coastal economies, strategic maritime hubs and a new generation of ocean innovators. The panel will explore where blue innovation can respond to the region’s most pressing challenges, how local solutions can attract investment and support and what is needed to build stronger connections across markets, sectors and countries.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
10:30 - 11:15
Renewing the capacity of marine and coastal systems to generate value instead of merely sustaining it. A great vision! How do we achieve it practically? WIBE is the network for women shaping the blue economy. A space for female leaders and community shapers to connect, share experiences, and opportunities.
*Organised by Women in Blue Economy
11:15 - 11:45
Moving beyond clean-up, this presentation will examine how regulation, product design, monitoring and business innovation can prevent waste and harmful materials from reaching the marine environment.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
11:45 - 12:30
Coastal cities are already facing the effects of rising seas, extreme weather and increasing pressure on infrastructure and communities. The challenge is no longer simply recognising the risks, but deciding what to prioritise and how to act. The panel will explore how cities are translating resilience plans into practical measures, mobilising investment and working across departments and sectors to protect people, assets and coastal ecosystems.
*Organised by World Ocean Council
12:30 – 13:15
This session will explore how training, employment services and industry demand are being aligned to develop the talent needed for the blue economy. It will highlight practical approaches to skills development, workforce transition and career pathways in maritime and port-related sectors.
*Organised by Barcelona Activa
13.15 - 16:15
Leading organisations from across the blue economy will introduce their work, workplace culture and current talent needs. The presentations will give professionals and students an insight into the range of career paths available across the sector and help participants prepare for the networking and interviews that follow.
*Organised by Barcelona Activa and the Chair of the Sustainable Blue Economy at the University of Barcelona
13.15 - 14:00
Leading organisations from across the blue economy will introduce their work, workplace culture and current talent needs. The presentations will give professionals and students an insight into the range of career paths available across the sector and help participants prepare for the networking and interviews that follow.
*Organised by Barcelona Activa and the Chair of the Sustainable Blue Economy at the University of Barcelona
14.00 - 16:15
Following the company presentations, candidates will have the opportunity to meet participating employers through informal networking and a series of interviews. Designed for professionals, students, junior candidates and people looking to reskill, the activity will create direct connections with companies seeking talent across the blue economy.
*Organised by Barcelona Activa and the Chair of the Sustainable Blue Economy at the University of Barcelona