Track: Blue Economy

Welcome to the 2025 edition of our events – the global stage where urban innovation comes to life.

This opening session sets the tone for an exciting journey ahead, with a warm welcome from Smart City Expo director Ugo Valenti and Tomorrow.Mobility president Marc Rozendal. Joining them are high-level representatives who will share how territories around the world are transforming the way we live, move, and build. Get ready to explore bold ideas and groundbreaking strategies.

Despite ocean industries generating $2.5 trillion annually, capital inflows remain limited. This panel tackles investor misconceptions — from “too risky” and “too fragmented” to “it’s all grants” — and shows how leaders are already proving them wrong.

From offshore renewables and aquaculture to ocean biotech, data, and nature-tech, this session explores which blue sectors are attracting real momentum — and what makes them bankable at scale.

The next frontier isn’t doing less harm — it’s rebuilding ocean health while creating value. This session spotlights industries moving beyond sustainability to regenerative models that restore ecosystems as part of business.

The talk will focus on lessons learned within recent trials of autonomous trucking in ports. We will have a chance to assess together with top industry-experts the viability of the technology,going well beyond the hype.

Explore how geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and changing trade patterns are affecting port operations worldwide. Panelists will discuss strategies for resilience, risk mitigation, and agility in uncertain markets.

As blue bonds move from niche innovation to mainstream finance, investors and issuers are redefining how ocean value is monetised. Join leaders at the forefront of this transformation to examine what makes a blue bond bankable, how to ensure integrity and impact, and where the next wave of opportunities lies.

This session will explore how 5G is transforming port ecosystems. Experts will discuss real-world use cases, including real-time monitoring, autonomous operations, and enhanced communication systems, and highlight the role of ultra-low latency in improving efficiency and safety.

Blended finance is proving key to mobilising private capital. Explore how public-private structures, philanthropic cushions, and real-world examples are helping early-stage and large-scale ocean projects secure funding.

Family offices and private wealth managers are entering the blue economy as a new legacy play. This session showcases how next-gen capital is moving into ocean-positive strategies and what they look for in opportunities.

As the maritime sector becomes more digitised, ports in Europe, the United States and Asia are adopting smart technologies - AI, IoT, digital twins and autonomous systems - that create enormous efficiencies but also introduce new vulnerabilities. In this panel, experts will share regional and cross-continental strategies to protect critical port infrastructure from cyber threats that can cripple global supply chains.

Tradable blue carbon and biodiversity credits are on the rise. This session explores emerging asset classes, verification systems, and the digital tools making nature-based solutions investable at scale.

Leading ports share their experiences and breakthroughs on the road to toward zero emissions. Learn about green energy integration, emission reduction technologies, and what it really takes to become a net-zero port in practice.

Discover the latest innovations and implementations of shore power systems (cold ironing). Experts will discuss infrastructure readiness, policy incentives, and how electrifying ships at berth is helping to reduce air pollution and improve sustainability.

Coastal regeneration is emerging as a high-impact, high-return frontier. From living infrastructure to projects like RegenPorts at the Port of Barcelona, discover how investors are financing nature-based solutions that build resilience and long-term value.

His panel will explore the synergies between city and port development through integrated planning and shared digital infrastructure, resilient ecosystems and collaborative public-private strategies.

Hear directly from c-level executives redefining leadership for the ocean economy. What does it take to move beyond “doing less harm” toward actively regenerative business models — while delivering competitive financial returns?

From green corridors and electrified terminals to alternative fuels and regulatory shifts, this session explores the leaders driving maritime decarbonization — and the barriers holding others back. What strategies are working, what missteps to avoid, and what the future demands of port and shipping actors.

A rapid-fire showcase of start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Seaweed, aquaculture, and alternative seafood are critical for global food security. How can we scale blue food systems while protecting biodiversity, ensuring traceability, and supporting equitable growth across the value chain?

Discover how Barcelona, the first city selected to host a UNESCO Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC), is at the forefront of advancing a sustainable blue economy worldwide. This roundtable will unveil the strategic pillars of the new DCC, showcase its key activities, and explore its potential impact within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

From seaweed cultivation to alkalinity enhancement, marine carbon removal could be critical to climate goals. This session unpacks the promise, pitfalls, and funding needs of ocean-based carbon solutions.

A rapid-fire showcase of start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

TBC

Offshore wind is booming but so are demands for biodiversity and fisheries protection. This session explores real-world strategies for marine spatial planning to balance energy, nature, and livelihoods.

Sensors, satellites, AI, and blockchain are transforming our view of the ocean. Who will control this “Internet of the Sea” — and how can data be used to drive conservation, transparency, and better governance?

A rapid-fire showcase of 9-10 start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Barcelona is strengthening its role as a leading hub for the blue economy by attracting global investment and talent through strategic initiatives and a dynamic innovation ecosystem. This round table will explore how the city appeals to the global blue economy and the opportunities it offers for growth, collaboration, and impact.

Coastal cities are stepping up as blue economy leaders. From resilient infrastructure to ocean-positive investments, which city-led initiatives are shaping the next generation of ocean hubs?

A rapid-fire showcase of 9-10 start-ups and scale-ups driving innovation across the blue economy.

Join us in celebrating the most innovative and impactful initiatives shaping the future of urban living. The World Smart City Awards recognize pioneering projects, visionary leaders, and transformative strategies that are driving progress in cities around the globe. This ceremony is a tribute to excellence, creativity, and collaboration in building smarter, more sustainable urban environments.

A relaxed moment to have a drink and mingle with other attendees at the venue’s main entrance after the World Smart City Awards gala.

Coastal ecosystems are vital yet at risk. This session explores science, finance, and community partnerships driving nature-based solutions and investment models like Newday Causeway to restore coasts, protect communities, and deliver measurable impact for resilience.

From cities and climate to capital and coastlines — ocean innovation is reshaping how we build, live, and invest.

Start-ups are brimming with solutions, but too many stall at pilot stage. This session tackles the bottlenecks between innovators and big business — and explores how to turn ideas into real-world adoption at scale.

Catalonia’s Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) promote SEA — Social, Economic and Environmental — initiatives that strengthen coastal communities and foster research and innovation within the fisheries sector. As territorial catalysts, they connect science, fisheries, governance, and local knowledge to advance towards a resilient, inclusive, and heritage-rooted blue economy.

This round table will present the city's renewed commitment to the Blue Economy through its updated Government Measure, outlining the strategic priorities for the coming years. It will also introduce the Barcelona Blue Economy Observatory, a key tool for monitoring the sector’s economic, social, and environmental impact. These initiatives reflect the city’s strategic ambition to become a global reference in the Blue Economy.

Cruises and ferries are under pressure to transform. This session explores how technology, regulation, and new business models are reshaping passenger shipping toward a cleaner future.

Join us for the world’s largest and most inclusive ocean innovation award, organized by the Dutch non-profit initiative OceanLove. Endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and supported by global ambassador Dr. Sylvia Earle, the ceremony celebrates breakthrough solutions to protect and restore our ocean.

The ocean economy needs a new generation of skilled workers. From digital and technical skills to sustainability training, how do we prepare a workforce ready to power the future ocean economy?

The Blue Economy is generating new career opportunities in fields such as marine biotechnology, underwater robotics, marine renewable energies or sustainable tourism. This round table will explore emerging career paths linked to oceans, seas, and coastal areas, and discuss how to prepare professionals to meet the growing demands of a sustainable and constantly evolving sector.

The next frontier isn’t doing less harm — it’s rebuilding ocean health while creating value. This session spotlights industries moving beyond sustainability to regenerative models that restore ecosystems as part of business.