The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) has launched a call for SMEs and start-ups from the Black Sea region, including Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, IPN reports, quoting  EU Neighbours east, a source of the European Commission.

Proposals will bring together blue economy stakeholders in EU and eligible non-EU Black Sea countries to identify and tackle local capacity building needs to boost innovation, digitalisation and investment in the Black Sea blue economy.

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three applicants, including at least two eligible non-EU countries and one EU country. All three applicants should be participants of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea.

Proposals should primarily focus on coastal and maritime tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, and maritime transport, shipbuilding, blue biotechnology, marine renewable energies, etc. Proposals may also explore the potential for SMEs/start-ups in the development of ports as blue economy accelerators.

EMFAF will provide from €300,000 to €500,000 per project.

The deadline for applications is 12 January, 2022, the European Commission has announced.