The development and launch of a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) educational platform designed to develop skills related to entrepreneurship, innovation and the sustainable use of marine resources, as well as the creation of five online courses covering various areas of the blue bioeconomy - these are the key outcomes of the recently completed BlueBioTechpreneurs (BBT). The University of Gdańsk participated as a partner in an international consortium, and the work of the team from the University of Gdańsk was led by mgr Hanna Łądkowska from the Department of Marine Ecology at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography. The project team’s work was recognised by the European Commission with the MakeEUBlue Award.

The BlueBioTechpreneurs project aimed to support the development of entrepreneurship, innovation and future-oriented skills in the field of blue biotechnology and the blue economy in the broadest sense. It was funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

A particular highlight of the project’s achievements is the development and launch of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) - Entrepreneurial & Transversal Skills for Innovators - Bridging the Skills Gap in the Blue Sector a free educational platform that enables users to acquire knowledge and develop skills related to entrepreneurship, innovation and the sustainable use of marine resources.

The collaboration of the international consortium resulted in the creation of five online courses covering various areas of the blue bioeconomy:

• Introduction to Blue Bioeconomy Entrepreneurship
• Beyond the Shore: Innovating the Blue Bioeconomy on Land
• Navigating the Blue Bioeconomy: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Coastal Aquaculture
• Integrated Ocean Planning: Marine Protected Areas, Multi-Use and Business Pathways
• Blue Biotechnology Entrepreneurship and Careers: Innovation to Impact

The resulting ‘Blue Bio DNA’ MOOC is a certified, comprehensive training programme covering both the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and specialist topics related to blue biotechnology, aquaculture, spatial planning, onshore innovation, business models, sustainable development and career paths. The thematic diversity of the courses reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the blue bioeconomy and enables people with different interests, professional experience and educational goals to benefit from the materials.

A team from the University of Gdańsk, led by mgr Hanna Łądkowska from the Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, actively participated in the creation of the MOOC programme - from devising the course concepts, through preparing the educational content, to developing teaching materials available to students,

academic staff, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the blue economy. Experts from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography and the Faculty of Management were involved in the work on the courses, contributing scientific knowledge and practical experience in the fields of oceanography, biotechnology, sustainable development and entrepreneurship.

The development of the MOOC was supported by a range of activities carried out as part of the project, including the international BBT Hackathons - Hacking Solutions for Tomorrow (one of which - BBT Baltic Hackathon - took place on 6-8 June 2025 at the University of Gdańsk) and a series of webinars From Academia to Entrepreneurship, dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and business and developing innovative ideas. The platform has attracted interest far exceeding the project’s original expectations: the initial target was 2,000 participants, yet around 3,500 people registered for the portfolio of courses on offer. Several months after its launch, the courses are still attracting new participants!

The MOOC course materials can be used by academic staff in their teaching as a valuable supplement to modules in biotechnology, oceanography, environmental protection, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and innovation. We also encourage students to make use of them!

The project team’s work was recognised by the European Commission with the MakeEUBlue Award, presented during European Maritime Day 2026.

On behalf of the University of Gdańsk, mgr Hanna Łądkowska (BBT project coordinator at the University of Gdańsk) and mgr Barbara Dmochowska from the Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography were responsible for the implementation of the BBT project, including the co-development of MOOCs. The following experts were also involved in the project activities related to the development of the courses and in the organisation of the BBT Baltic Hackathon: dr Filip Pniewski and dr Iwona Bubak from the Department of Marine Ecosystem Functioning, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography; dr hab. Anna Dziadkiewicz, prof. UG together with the team from the Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management; dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG together with the team from the Centre for Sustainable Development, and mgr Katarzyna Gronowska together with the team from the Technology Transfer Office.

Further information is available at: https://bluebiotechpreneurs.eu/.

Partners in the BlueBioTechpreneurs (BBT) project consortium: SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth (Germany) - project coordinator, University of Southern Denmark (Denmark), BlueBio Alliance (Portugal), Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (France).