Looking Back on the “ONE HEALTH: Well-Being and Sustainability in the Blue Economy” Event — A Success for Franco-Monegasque-Italian Cooperation Around the Blue Economy

Photo de famille One Health UNOC Side Event_1

On June 5 and 6, the Mediterranean Institute for Risk, Environment and Sustainable Development (IMREDD) of Université Côte d’Azur hosted a major international event as part of the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 (UNOC 2025). Titled “ONE HEALTH: Well-Being and Sustainability in the Blue Economy,” this official UNOC side event, co-organized by IMREDD and the Research Center on Advanced Technologies for Health and Well-Being at the San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan, marked a significant milestone in strengthening cooperation between France, Monaco, and Italy in the field of innovation applied to the Blue Economy.

Strong Institutional Engagement

Supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Nice, the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur, Ville de Nice, and the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the event’s institutional dimension was further strengthened by the participation of prominent figures dedicated to cross-border cooperation, including:

  • Emilio LOLLI, Consul General of Italy in Nice
  • Laurence NAVALESI, City Councillor of Nice, Deputy Delegate for Cross-Border Relations
  • Cécile SABOURAULT, Vice-President for International Affairs at Université Côte d’Azur

Their contributions highlighted the importance of a coordinated, transnational approach to addressing the environmental, economic, and health challenges facing the Mediterranean region — and to establishing the Blue Economy as a lever for a sustainable and shared transition.

A Transnational Innovation Ecosystem for the Blue Economy

The “ONE HEALTH: Well-Being and Sustainability in the Blue Economy” program was born out of collaboration between IMREDD, the San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan, and the Consorzio Industriale Provinciale Nord-Est Sardegna (CIPNES Gallura). Launched in 2024 at the Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, the program aims to create an integrated ecosystem of technological innovation built on industrial partnerships and research projects. It contributes to the formation of an international network focused on meeting the major global challenges of the Blue Economy. The goal is to promote the transition towards healthier, more sustainable, and more responsible lifestyles.

A Dynamic B2B Format to Foster Concrete Synergies

The event brought together 34 companies, start-ups, and research laboratories from France, Monaco, and Italy in a dynamic B2B format that encouraged networking, targeted meetings, and the development of joint projects. Pitch sessions, matchmaking appointments, and networking opportunities gave rise to tangible prospects for industrial collaboration and the creation of consortia in response to project calls.

Participants also had the opportunity to test a technology available at IMREDD: AWABOT, which allowed a remote attendee to interact on-site and explore the venue as if physically present.

A Highlight: The Blue Innovation Awards

A particularly anticipated moment of the two-day event, the Blue Innovation Awards honored seven outstanding initiatives recognized for their impact, originality, and contribution to a sustainable Blue Economy. The 2025 awardees are:

  • Technological Innovation for the Sea: WSENSE
  • Marine Biotechnology and Health: INNOV&SEA
  • Circular Economy, Marine Waste Management & Eco-Design: 2IDEM
  • Marine Ecotourism & Green Mobility: SEAZEN
  • Water Management Solutions: BLUE GOLD
  • Social Impact & Marine Regeneration: OGYRE
  • Special Prize “ONE HEALTH: Well-Being and Sustainability in the Blue Economy”: ALGAE SCOPE

These distinctions reflect the diversity and dynamism of the Euro-Mediterranean innovation ecosystem addressing marine and ocean-related challenges.

A Lever for Growth and Cooperation

In partnership with the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, CIPNES Gallura presented concrete funding opportunities for organizations looking to establish or expand operations in Sardinia. Targeted actions are already planned to strengthen the internationalization of Sardinian companies and promote exchanges with their French, Italian, and Monegasque counterparts.

Toward a Sustainable Alliance in the Mediterranean

This event proved to be far more than a simple forum for discussion. It laid the groundwork for operational and long-term cooperation, placing territorial collaboration, technology, and innovation at the service of marine ecosystem protection and population well-being. A benchmark event for all actors in the Mediterranean Blue Economy.

Future Perspectives

An indicator will be established after six months to monitor and quantify the number of industrial collaborations, the formation of partnerships and consortia for responding to calls for proposals, as well as businesses generated thanks to this event.

Future growth will be driven by two key events, the Fiera Nautica di Sardegna and the Nice event, which we plan to continue in the coming years, expanding their reach to global actors in the blue economy.

Collective Support for a Shared Mediterranean Vision

Organized by IMREDD and the Research Center on Advanced Technologies for Health and Well-Being at the San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan, the event was held in partnership with key institutional stakeholders, including the General Italian Consulate in Nice, the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur, the City of Nice, the Autonomous Region of Sardegna, the Coalition Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience, CIPNES Gallura, the Nice Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Team Nice Côte d’Azur, and EU.TOPIA. The organizers extend their warmest thanks to all contributors for their essential role in the success and visibility of the event.