Blue Gates: Unlocking the Black Sea's Potential
A cross-border partnership fostering innovation in trade, tourism, fishing, and cultural heritage
Key Goals & Project Areas
The Blue Gates project focuses on five key sectors: maritime transport and logistics, coastal and maritime tourism, fishing and aquaculture, and underwater cultural heritage. Our goal is to strengthen cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, and Turkey to unlock the economic potential of the Black Sea region.
Partner Countries
Collaborating across borders for sustainable blue economy development
Partners & Roles
Meet the organizations behind Blue Gates — united by a shared commitment to unlock the Black Sea's potential through innovation, research, and cross-border cooperation.
Burgas Municipality
Governs Burgas city and 12 surrounding settlements (population ~196,000). Actively participates in international programs such as LIFE, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and INTERREG. Priorities: sustainable development, environmental protection, maritime transport and tourism, Blue Economy, Black Sea management, Burgas port and airport, smart maritime solutions, and innovation support.
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Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN)
An international academic network established in 1998 in Constanța, Romania, uniting over 115 universities from 12 countries. BSUN promotes academic and research cooperation through exchanges, joint projects, and international programs for sustainable development and the Blue Economy.
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Odesa National Maritime University (ONMU)
Established in 1930, educating students from over 90 countries. Offers maritime transport, port operations, marine engineering, and logistics programs. Participates in TEMPUS, Erasmus+, CEI, and is ISO 9001 certified. Supports sustainable development and innovation in the Blue Economy.
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Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University
Founded in 2006 in Rize, Turkey, with over 15,000 students. The university offers programs in fisheries, maritime industry, engineering, and healthcare, participating in international projects and exchanges to support sustainable development and the Blue Economy.
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Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA)
A regional agency established in 2009 to support economic and social development in six northeastern Turkish provinces. DOKA promotes innovation, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship through technical and financial assistance. It participates in EU programs and projects focused on the Blue Economy.
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