10 Jan The Sustainable Blue Economy Centres has been established in the 4 Asian HEIs
A major milestone of the SustainaBlue project was achieved with the establishment of the four Sustainable Blue Economy Centres (SBECs) at its partner universities in Malaysia and Indonesia, namely the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), University of Indonesia (UI) and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh (ITS) Nopember. The SBECs were established based on recommendations for adapting successful European Quintuple Helix models to Malaysia and Indonesia for a sustainable blue economy. Each SBEC will be responsible for initiating and leading a new kind of collaboration, co-creation and co-production of knowledge and innovation among HEIs, blue industries, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders towards a sustainable blue economy.
Each Sustainable Blue Economy Centre operates under specific mandates and Operational Guides that determine their organizational structure and operations. The guides outline the scope and purpose of the Centres, their main goals, objectives and expected outcomes, as well as the core principles of their work, their organizational structure, responsibilities and working methods.
The Sustainable Blue Economy Centres are designed to enhance skills, knowledge, and performance in the blue economy by bringing together specialized expertise, resources, and best practices to drive innovation and excellence in the domain. They are also committed to supporting research activities, fostering innovation and strengthening research capacities through a wide range of services that promote the growth and development of both internal and external stakeholders.
The SBECs aim to deliver comprehensive education and awareness programmes on marine and coastal environments within the framework of the blue economy. These efforts include offering courses and workshops, organising public outreach activities, conducting research, advocating for sustainable policies, encouraging community engagement, and building partnerships with various stakeholders in the blue economy. The SBECs strive to produce internationally competitive outcomes that meet global standards of excellence.
To officially launch the four SBECs, dedicated events were held at each partner HEI between November and December 2024. These events marked the formal establishment of each of the SBECs and included the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Centres and various blue economy stakeholders, aimed at fostering collaboration to advance the blue economy in Malaysia and Indonesia. The events were attended by researchers, industry representatives, administrative staff and students, demonstrating a strong, shared commitment to sustainable blue economy initiatives.
Through the SBECs and other key deliverables of the SustainaBlue project, the 4 Asian HEIs are prepared to take on a pivotal role in shaping the sustainable blue economy in Malaysia, Indonesia and the wider region. By incorporating innovative practices of collaboration and co-creation, they aim to drive the long-term transformation of the blue economy ecosystem.
