ETP Champions

Introduction

This new competition of best practices highlights and rewards outstanding success stories, forward-looking solutions, and inspiring initiatives that help the fisheries and aquaculture communities advance their energy transition. The selected champions will serve as models for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across the sector. 

Awarded categories

Applicants can enter their project or solution under one of the following categories. When relevant, an optional secondary category may also be indicated.            

1. Innovations for energy transition in fishing operations

Recognising pioneering solutions that improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in fisheries. This includes energy-efficient vessel designs, advanced technologies for route optimisation, innovations in low-carbon fuels, adopt outriggers, sumwing technology, waste heat recovery systems, antifouling and propeller optimisation.

2. Innovations for energy efficiency for aquaculture

Recognising innovative approaches in aquaculture that enhance energy efficiency and contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions. This includes low-energy production systems, digital solutions for energy optimisation, renewable energy solutions, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture and adaptations that support the transition to carbon-neutral aquaculture operations.

3. Innovative infrastructure for the energy transition

Delivering essential support and resources to the Energy Transition for EU fisheries and aquaculture and recognising breakthroughs in alternative fuels, supporting infrastructure, and on-board processes that facilitate a sustainable energy transition. These include efforts to integrate new fuels into operations, build necessary infrastructure including in ports, and enable energy-efficient practices.

How to apply?

Applications must be submitted in English via the online form by 7 April 2026. 
In the second half of April 2026, all applicants will be informed of the results.
The selected champions will then be celebrated at a dedicated ceremony during European Maritime Day on 22 May 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus.

Project eligibility

In order to be eligible, projects must:

• Be a registered legal entity and implemented in one or more EU Member States.
• Technology or solution with minimum TRL-7
• Product or solution fits one or more of the cited categories (see the Guideline for applicants)

Applications should be put forward by individuals or organisations who are project leaders or partners of the concerned project consortium (in case of projects) or solutions owners. These may include fishers and aquaculture operators, entrepreneurs, organisations, centres of excellence/research institutions, maritime clusters, ports, associations and NGOs from the EU Member States.

Evaluation criteria

The assessment of nominations will be carried out by the Energy transition for EU fisheries and aquaculture award jury, formed of 5 experts from the ETP Assistance Mechanism and Experts from Blue Invest. The jury will pre-select projects and present a shortlist for the final evaluation done by and the European Commission (DG MARE and CINEA).

ETP Support Group Coordinators will be excluded from selecting winners to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Eligible nominations will be assessed against the criteria included in the following Guideline for applicants.

Awards 

Awarded projects will be invited to the Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Award Ceremony, which will take place during the EMD 2026 at Limassol, Cyprus. Their travel costs will be reimbursed according to the EC policies.

At the ceremony, after the formal announcement of the champions, a pitching competition will be held to determine the overall winner of the Energy Transition for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Champions 2026 (the "winner of winners"). The competition will follow these steps:

• Presentations: Each representative of the awarded projects per category will deliver a five-minute pitch highlighting their project. A single slide may be used for visual support (videos or multi-slide presentations will not be permitted to maintain a level playing field).
• Live voting: A dynamic live voting session will take place via a participatory platform (e.g., SLIDO).
• Winner announcement: Based on the audience’s votes, the “winner of winners” will be announced on-site and presented with a special award.

As part of their award package, each champion will also be invited to participate in a dedicated pitching session organised in collaboration with the BlueInvest Community. This session offers valuable visibility among investors, market actors and other key stakeholders in the blue economy.

In addition, the three shortlisted projects in each category will receive personalised support through a coaching workshop focused on investment and market readiness. This training will be delivered by an experienced BlueInvest coach and is designed to help participants strengthen their business approach and prepare for future financing opportunities.