Galway Welcomes the Blue Shuttle Study Visit & Steering Committee
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On the 22nd and 23rd of April 2026, the Atlantic coastal city of Galway became the focal point for the Blue Shuttle project’s 5th Steering Committee Meeting and SMEs Study Visit — bringing together partners, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the Atlantic Area.
From the salt-aired quayside of Galway Port to the innovation hubs of Mervue Business Park, two days of visits, presentations, and strategic discussions offered a vivid reminder of why Galway is one of Europe’s most dynamic centres for blue economy innovation.
The visit kicked off at the Marine Institute’s Research Support Base, located at Galway Port. This world-class facility offered participants a first-hand look at Ireland’s national marine research infrastructure and the vital role it plays in supporting sustainable ocean science, data collection, and coastal management across the Atlantic.
After a tour of the base, the group departed for Platform94 at Mervue Business Park — a vibrant innovation hub that would serve as the main venue for the day’s sessions.
The afternoon took participants to Atlantic Technological University’s Galway City campus, beginning with a visit to Konree Innovation — a hub for translating research into commercial marine solutions.
The group then moved to the Marine & Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), one of Ireland’s leading applied research centres in aquatic sciences. The MFRC works across a range of priority areas including fisheries, water quality, aquaculture, and blue biotechnology — areas that are central to the Blue Shuttle mission of growing Atlantic Area SMEs in the blue economy.
The day concluded in style with a Blue Shuttle dinner at Kirby’s Restaurant on Cross Street — a lively Galway institution — giving partners, SMEs and hosts the opportunity to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting over the best of west of Ireland hospitality.
Day 2 brought partners back to Platform94 for the formal 5th Steering Committee Meeting, held in the Innovate Room on the first floor. The agenda was structured around the project’s core work packages, with each partner consortium taking the floor to report on progress and plan the way forward.
Discussions across the work packages covered topics ranging from the development of the project’s transnational innovation network, sector-specific diagnostics of the Atlantic blue economy, and strategies for effective knowledge transfer to blue business entrepreneurs and SMEs. The coordination session provided an opportunity to align on communications and ensure coherent messaging across all partner regions.
The Blue Shuttle Partnership
Blue Shuttle is an Interreg Atlantic Area project dedicated to boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in the blue economy across the Atlantic coastline of Europe. The project brings together a diverse consortium of innovation agencies, research organisations, and business support bodies.
Looking Ahead
The Galway gathering marked an important milestone in the Blue Shuttle journey. With project work packages advancing and a growing network of engaged SMEs across the Atlantic Area, the partnership is well placed to continue delivering meaningful impact for coastal and marine businesses.
A sincere thank you to the Marine Institute, ATU Galway, Konree Innovation, Platform94, and all the speakers and hosts who made this visit such a rich and productive experience for everyone involved.