The signing of the Alliance of Marine Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (AL MAR), of which the Cádiz Consortium is a part, opens new avenues of collaboration between institutions, universities and agents from both sides of the Atlantic
Innovazul Caribe 2026 strengthens the ties between Cádiz and Santa Marta and allows progress in the adaptation to the Colombian Caribbean of experiences successfully developed through Incubazul and Blue Core
The University of Magdalena has awarded the State delegate, Fran González, with an Honorary Doctorate in Marine Sciences, a recognition of his contribution to the promotion of the Blue Economy
As a prelude to the forum, the Caribbean Seas and Coasts Course was held, organized by CEI·MAR and the BiO ReD Institute, with a notable presence of the Free Zone projects.
Cádiz, September 20, 2026.
The participation of the Cádiz Free Zone in Innovazul Caribe 2026 has given new impetus to the international cooperation network that the Consortium has been weaving around the Blue Economy, especially between Cádiz and Latin America and the Caribbean. One of the main exponents of this advance has been the signing of the Alliance of Marine Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (AL MAR), a new international network of which the Free Trade Zone is a part along with universities, organizations and institutions and which was created to promote training, research, mobility and the transfer of knowledge linked to the sea.
The meeting, held from September 17 to 19 in Santa Marta (Colombia), has also allowed us to deepen the cooperation between Cádiz and the Colombian Caribbean and advance the work to transfer and adapt to this territory experiences successfully developed by the Free Zone through Incubazul and Blue Core. The State delegate, Fran González, participated in the forum accompanied by the director of the Consortium's Blue Economy, José Manuel Fedriani.
Within the framework of Innovazul Caribe, the University of Magdalena has also distinguished Fran González as an Honorary Doctor in Marine Sciences, a recognition that highlights his contribution and the work carried out from the Cádiz Free Trade Zone to promote the Blue Economy as a generator of activity, companies, employment and new opportunities.
Fran González has shown his satisfaction for a distinction that he considers “a recognition that transcends the personal and that highlights the work we are developing from the Cádiz Free Trade Zone to turn the Blue Economy into a true lever of economic transformation, business creation and job creation.”. The delegate added that “This recognition encourages us to continue advancing and sharing a model that is demonstrating its ability to generate opportunities and act as a catalyst for talent and innovation in the territories.”.
An alliance between the two shores
AL MAR arises as a strategic initiative of the University of Magdalena and takes as a reference the experience of SEA-EU, the European University of the Seas, to adapt it to the context of Latin America and the Caribbean. The alliance aims to articulate academic, scientific and institutional capacities in maritime and coastal matters and strengthen connections with the European ecosystem.
Along with universities from different Latin American countries, institutions and entities such as the Cádiz Free Trade Zone, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the University of Cádiz, SEA-EU, the Campus of International Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), CEMarin, the Mayor's Office of Santa Marta, the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Marta for the Magdalena, the Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (INVEMAR), the Cluster participate in this initiative. Maritime-Marine of Andalusia (CMMA) and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), among others.
Through this alliance, its members will work to strengthen academic and scientific capacities related to the Blue Economy through the joint design and implementation of micro-credentials and continuous training programs, as well as the development of research in areas such as sustainable fishing, maritime tourism, ocean governance or ecosystem regeneration.
Academic mobility and regional cooperation will also be promoted through an exchange program inspired by the Erasmus+ model and adapted to the Latin American and Caribbean context, with exchanges, internships and volunteering that contribute to generating social, economic and environmental impact.
Incubazul and Blue Core, references in Innovazul Caribe
As a prologue to Innovazul Caribe 2026, the Caribbean Seas and Coasts Course was held, organized by CEI·MAR and the BiO ReD Institute of the University of Magdalena, a space for scientific and academic cooperation between the Colombian Caribbean and Andalusia in which the Free Zone projects had a prominent presence.
Fran González participated in this program to explain the Blue Economy projects developed by the Cádiz Consortium and share the experience accumulated with Incubazul and Blue Core, together with Spanish and Colombian researchers and specialists who addressed matters related to marine biodiversity, bioresources, sustainability and economic opportunities linked to the sea.
During Innovazul Caribe 2026, participants have shared experiences, progress and projects aimed at promoting the Blue Economy and energizing strategic alliances for its consolidation, with a special role for Cádiz and the ecosystem created around Incubazul and Blue Core as a platform for the creation and consolidation of companies and to promote their growth and internationalization.
After the institutional opening ceremony and the inaugural conference led by Gunter Pauli, the discussion table was held “Blue Innovation District: Multi-stakeholder Meeting”, in which Fran González presented the details of the blue innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem developed by the Cádiz Free Trade Zone and, especially, the experience of its technology-based startup incubator as a model that can be adapted to other territories.
The State delegate has expressed feeling “very satisfied with the success of our incubation model. Incubazul and Blue Core work and the figures speak for themselves: there are 100 incubated companies, of which 81% advance and 41% invoice”.
The head of the Cádiz Consortium has highlighted the role of the Free Trade Zone as a catalyst for opportunities and a driver of business and employment creation. “We develop an economic model based on attracting and retaining talent, taking advantage of our strengths, which are many, and betting on an innovative, technological and sustainable model with the Blue Economy as the central axis.”, he explained.
Fran González has also highlighted that “The support of the FEDER Funds has been fundamental for the development of the Blue Economy ecosystem” and has influenced that “We are a reference in compliance with FEDER Funds. Our ecosystem first started with Incubazul, when we focused on detecting ideas and projects and supporting them so that they developed as companies. With Blue Core we concentrate on making it grow and consolidate it”.
Cádiz and Santa Marta consolidate their cooperation
At the multi-stakeholder work table, the progress in the work being carried out to adapt in Santa Marta experiences of the development model in innovation and Blue Economy of the Cádiz Free Zone was also presented. In addition to the State delegate and José Manuel Fedriani, local authorities and representatives of the Santa Marta Free Trade Zone, the port and the Chamber of Commerce of the Colombian town participated.
The participants highlighted the value of having the experience developed in Cádiz and success stories that can be extrapolated to other territories. Santa Marta has been working closely with Cádiz, having both the Free Trade Zone and the University of Cádiz as allies, while the University of Magdalena has been part of the CEI·MAR Board of Trustees since 2023. This network of relationships reinforces a corridor of cooperation between both shores around knowledge, innovation and the Blue Economy.
The alliance between Cádiz and Santa Marta began to take shape in 2024 with the first edition of Innovazul Caribe and has intensified since then. Three months ago, a delegation made up of representatives from different Colombian entities visited the Cádiz Free Trade Zone to learn first-hand about its Blue Economy ecosystem and verify “on-site” the work developed by the Consortium as a catalyst for opportunities and knowledge transfer.
Innovazul Caribe 2026 has brought together representatives of science, universities, administrations, companies and other agents linked to the sustainable development of marine-coastal territories, reinforcing connections between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean around blue innovation.
The presence in Colombia has also served to maintain various contacts with authorities and businessmen interested in learning about both the Blue Economy model developed by the Free Trade Zone and the opportunities offered by the Cádiz tax district as a logistical enclave for foreign trade operations, thanks to its strategic location and its position as a natural connection gateway between continents.
Participation in Innovazul Caribe thus gives continuity to the internationalization strategy developed in recent months by the Cádiz Free Trade Zone and reinforces a cooperation network with Latin America that allows projecting the knowledge and experiences generated in Cádiz, while opening new avenues of business, institutional and academic collaboration.