HEI-Blue Accelerator Bootcamp: Empowering university students from the SWIO countries to drive blue economy development
The HEI-Blue Accelerator Bootcamp was officially launched on Monday April 20, bringing together around thirty university students from Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles for an intensive, hands-on training programme dedicated to science, technology and innovation in the Blue Economy. Implemented by Cap Business Océan Indien, this initiative forms part of the HEI-Blue (Higher Education Institutions for the Blue Economy) project, co-financed by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Programme.
The launching ceremony took place at the University of Mauritius, in the presence of Dr the Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, and Mr Moustapha Magumu, First Counsellor and Head of the Regional Trade Section of the EU delegation to Mauritius. This one-week bootcamp aims to support the next generation of ocean entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into viable and impactful business models that address key regional challenges.
“It is essential that we bring young entrepreneurs closer to both the academic and business worlds. This bootcamp creates bridges that enable knowledge transfer, which is primordial to turning innovative ideas into sustainable business ventures. We are delighted to see these students taking a keen interest in the Blue Economy, a highly promising sector for entrepreneurs and startups in our region. This bootcamp is not just a learning experience; it is a launchpad,” said Virginie Lauret, Executive Director of Cap Business Océan Indien, in her opening remarks.
Over the course of the week, participants will benefit from a tailor-made programme designed to equip them with practical skills and tools to develop their business plans and entrepreneurial projects. Mentors and business coaches from regional and European universities will guide and assist students to refine their business ideas into community-based projects and create new business opportunities in areas such as marine biotechnology, renewable energy, IUU fishing through innovative solutions, including Artificial Intelligence.
“The launch of the HEI-Blue Bootcamp at the University of Mauritius marks a transformative moment for blue economy innovation across the South-West Indian Ocean. The strong support from Minister Dr. Arvin Boolell and EU First Counsellor Mr. Moustapha Magumu highlights the critical importance of government and international cooperation for sustainable ocean initiatives. This powerful endorsement inspires confidence in youth-led innovation” said Elen García, HEI-Blue Coordinator, University of Alicante.
The bootcamp will also include site visits to local private companies engaged in innovative Blue Economy solutions. Towards the end of the programme, the students will have a platform to pitch their projects to a jury panel, thereby strengthening participants’ ability to translate ideas into concrete ventures.
This bootcamp builds on a series of Training of Trainers sessions conducted in 2025, which focused on identifying emerging opportunities and developing innovative approaches within the Blue Economy sector. The HEI-Blue project aims to promote blue entrepreneurship in selected South-West Indian Ocean countries by transferring best practice approaches and facilitating innovative learning methodologies in entrepreneurship education. It also seeks to strengthen local innovation ecosystems by creating physical and virtual environments that foster collaboration among higher education institutions, public administrations, civil society and private sector actors working across the Blue Economy.
The HEI-Blue project is led by a consortium that brings together a network of partners comprising seven universities from the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region, three European universities, and two macro-regional organisations, including Cap Business Océan Indien.
For more information about the HEI-Blue project: www.hei-blue.eu
