What is currently attracting investment in the Blue Economy — and which technologies are gaining momentum?
This edition of Blue Compass – Investment Trends Monitor analyses of venture capital activity in the first quarter of 2026 across Blue Economy value chains, highlighting where capital is being channelled, which sectors are making progress, and what this implies for ocean innovation.
This quarter, the report focuses on Bluetech & Ocean Observation, selected as the Sector of the Quarter. Investment activity points to growing interest in technologies that improve ocean visibility, autonomous operations, maritime intelligence, underwater monitoring and decision-support capabilities.
The report also looks beyond Bluetech, tracking activity in Shipbuilding & Refitting, Blue Renewable Energy, Blue Biotechnology, Aquaculture and Water Management, where capital is shifting towards more targeted, deployment-ready solutions.
This edition includes expert views from Tatiana Der Avedissian, Head of Business Development at The Economist, on the strategic role of ocean observation and ocean data, and Guilherme Beleza Vaz, Founder and CEO of blueOASIS, and Miguel Santos from IPMA, on the integration of operational data with dynamic simulation models.
Download the full report to explore the key investment trends, notable funding rounds, investor activity and sector insights shaping the Blue Economy in Q1 2026.
