Coastal and maritime tourism is the largest maritime activity in Europe and closely linked to many other parts of the economy. It employs almost 3.2 million people, generating a total of € 183 billion in gross value added and representing over one third of the maritime economy. Coastal areas are important for growth and jobs, however, many of the small- and medium-sized enterprises that make up the sector struggle with a variety of challenges and cannot adequately exploit this potential alone. An healthy environment and high-quality services — by specialised and well-trained entrepreneurs and workers— will make coastal areas more appealing for marine and nautical tourism activities, sports, and green tourism. OBJECTIVES The general objective of the proposed project is to boost entrepreneurs’ competences, enhance their services and support their competitiveness in marine sector at EU level. Specific objectives are: - SO1: Improve the institutional ecosystem identifying best practices and replicable models. - SO2: Train the trainers in order to support entrepreneurs and want to-be entrepreneurs in adapting their businesses to current market, where a large part of customers are interested in support environmental-sustainable businesses. - SO3: Encourage the creation of new businesses focused on blue economy (touristic businesses mainly) with a business model which integrate business competitiveness/growth and environmental protection. The project aims at filling the gap of the skills related to the entrepreneurs of the maritime sector. TARGET GROUP Direct Target: educators, trainers, teachers which support entrepreneurs and business creation, entrepreneurs active in marine tourism, want to-be-entrepreneurs in marine tourism Indirect target: policy makers, public authorities, tourists SIX PARTNERS from 5 countries will take part to this project: - Leader is The Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce (MICC) is a non-profit organization whose aim is to develop and increase business opportunities; - Varna Economic Development Agency (VEDA) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental association; - Coopération Bancaire pour l’Europe is a Brussels-based European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) - Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI) is a private consulting company, created in 1997, as an active centre of national and international networks connected to the SME and innovation sectors. - FVB (The Hive) is a “certified business incubator” delegated to promote the birth and development of innovative start-ups; - The University of Malta (UM) it is the highest teaching institution of the State. Two Associated partners will support the project activities along with Dissemination and Sustainability: - University Maritime Platform (Malta) - Department of Geosciences (Malta) Description of ACTIVITIES: - project management activities; - quality assurance and evaluation activities; - learning outcomes and quality indicators; - Online Interactive map of Best Practices & Repository of training courses, experts' interviews and datas; - BLUESPROUt training programme; - Interactive (E-learning)Training platform; - project web site (design and programming, content); - testing and piloting activities; - dissemination activities; METHODOLOGY: designed to incorporate necessary research, design, testing, production, implementation, exploitation and sustainability phases. Activities are scheduled to allow for essential reflection and inputs both by the consortium partners and target groups. PROJECT ACTIVITIES RESULTS will be clearly related to the specific objectives of the project. IMPACT: increased competences of blue entrepreneurs, want to-be entrepreneurs, workers, learners, trainers and techers; increased awareness of participants (at local, national, European level) about opportunities and innovative trends (as the application of the principles for a sustainable Blue Economy) in the coastal and marine touristic sector. PARTICIPANTS: number of participants from the target group and potential beneficiaries: 500