Applications Open for UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026

Organizers

UNIDO ITPO Italy, created in 1987 and based in Rome, has mandate to enhance the competitiveness of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, through the mobilization of investments as well as the transfer of technology and management skills together with capacity building activities required for the implementation of industrial projects and SMEs upgrading in developing and emerging countries. In 2020, ITPO Italy designed, launched, and implemented the UNIDO ITPO Global Call for the first time, with the aim of mobilizing global efforts to support developing countries and economies in transition in their response to and management of the COVID-19 crisis. From its inception to date, the Global Call has sought to foster the development and promotion of innovative ideas and technologies capable of delivering tangible impact, with a particular focus on benefiting developing countries and economies in transition.

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is the global brand-licensing organization behind the World Trade Center® name — a platform recognized worldwide as a symbol of international business, credibility, and connection. For more than 50 years, WTCA has licensed and connected independently operated World Trade Center businesses across a trusted international network that supports trade, investment, and economic connectivity across markets. This network serves as an international ecosystem of global connections, iconic properties, and integrated trade services, bringing together commercial property developers and operators, economic development agencies, and businesses looking to connect globally. Today, the WTCA network includes more than 300 licensed World Trade Center businesses in nearly 100 countries worldwide.

The Blue Economy

According to the OECD the Blue Economy accounted for 1.5 trillion dollars in 2010 and it is expected to double in 2030 while reaching the 5 trillion dollars of gross value added by 2050. Aside from the economic features, it is estimated that over 3 billion people worldwide depend directly on Blue Economy related activities. Furthermore, oceans and inland freshwater water have a central role in climate balance and life conservation, which makes of paramount importance to balance economic growth with ocean and water reserve health.

The sustainable development of the Blue Economy leverages on innovation, inclusive governance, and nature-based solutions. Aside from mainstream activities like fishery, tourism and shipping & port activities, the Blue Economy presents emerging sectors like renewable energy, marine biotechnology, desalination, and ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and coastal protection. All these applications are currently transitioning toward a more interconnected and digitalized functioning, a feature that will play a central role in the future.

Against this background, startups and innovators are emerging with solutions aimed at restoring ocean and water reserves & streams’ health while promoting a sustainable development paradigm. These innovations, spanning a wide range of interconnected and interdependent sectors, have the potential to drive a systemic transformation of the Blue Economy.

The UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026

The UNIDO - WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026 aims to identify and promote readily deployable and scalable solutions and innovative technologies contributing to an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development of the Blue Economy. Particular attention will be paid to high impact solutions for Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The Global Call encompasses six strategic categories related to innovative solutions in Blue Economy.

Scope

The UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026 (Global Call) scope is to promote the sustainable development of the Blue Economy by supporting and scaling up innovative ideas and companies. The Call will identify and award one ready deployable, innovative, and scalable solution for each of the six strategic categories (outlined above). The winning ideas will enter an acceleration program under the UNIDO-WTCA umbrella and benefit from the UNIDO and WTCA expertise, network, and high-level mentoring. Supported by UNIDO’s technical cooperation, selected projects will receive potential pilot opportunities in partner countries, while through the WTCA’s business development platforms, companies will access business programs, new markets and expand worldwide. Both institutions will provide direct support for scaling up and matchmaking services to enhance winners' impact and success.

Structure & Timeline

The UNIDO WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026 is divided in three key components: the Call for Innovators, the Evaluation & Selection Period, and the Award Ceremony & Showcase.

1. The Call for Innovators consists in a global call on innovative blue economy solutions, inviting on-line applications from micro, small, medium, large companies and startups, but also academia, NGOs as well as public-private projects and initiatives. The call will prioritize women- and youth-led initiatives and projects focusing on developing countries, as well as small island developing states. 

2. The Evaluation & Selection Period represents a period of analysis of submitted applications where a Scientific Committee will evaluate applications, and a dedicated International Jury will elect the winners of the Global Call.

3. The Award Ceremony & Showcase will take place in Rome, Italy at the Euro Mediterranean Water Forum, where the six best-in class ideas identified as the winners of the UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call will showcase their innovative ideas.

Target Group

The Global Call for proposals will target the following groups for participation in the competition:

• Micro, small, medium (MSMEs) and large enterprises;

• Start-up companies operating in sectors linked to the contest;

• Academic institutions/centers;

• Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives;

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs); public and private foundations linked to the business world and international development cooperation;

The organizers encourage the submission of proposals, from early-stage ideas to scaling up projects, but also innovative technologies under testing and evidence collection.

Eligibility criteria

By entering this contest, applicants accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Reference.

Proposals are required to meet a set of minimum eligibility criteria in order to be able to be considered for evaluation in the context of this call.

Entries that do not meet the eligibility criteria are subject to disqualification and/or removal, at organizer’s sole discretion.

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Individuals must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to enter.

• Each individual submission should clearly state the focus area by selecting the most applicable category in the application form. Candidates may select up to two categories.

• The description of the business project should not be written in a promotional tone, but use neutral, factual language.

• The applications sent by admissible candidates will be submitted for an initial screening phase and will be considered only if complete in all the mandatory fields and coherent with the Global Call for proposal objectives and themes.

• Only the admissible proposals, following a verification of their feasibility and credibility requirements, will enter the evaluation process.

• To ensure that the proposed solutions are beyond the conceptual stage and have already reached a minimum level of technical maturity and reliability, business projects must present a Technology Readiness Level equal or superior to 4 (Annex). 

• Applications must be submitted in English.

• All entries are final; no revisions or modifications after submission are accepted.

• Entries must include only materials created by the entrant and must not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any other person or entity. Entrant must not copy material or include materials, images, graphics, music or trademarks belonging to any third parties or incorporate the names, likeness or personas of any party other than yourself in your entry. Except as stated herein, no entries may contain brand names, trademarks or company logos not owned by entrant,