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BlueDiplomacy

Geopolitics of CCAM & Mediterranean Supply Chains

HORIZON-CL5  ·  Cluster 5  ·  Energy, Climate & Mobility

📅 Deadline: 08 Oct 2026 💶 Budget: ~€4 M · RIA 🌊 Mediterranean Port-Centric Corridors

An innovation & policy roadmap for EU leadership in Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM)

EMUNI University
CCAM Geopolitical Context

CCAM is the new strategic high ground.
Mediterranean corridors cannot be taken for granted.

Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility is reshaping trade, logistics and industrial ecosystems worldwide. Competing global actors are using infrastructure, standards and data governance to secure long‑term advantages in mobility and supply chains. At the same time, climate change and the prospective opening of the Northern Sea Route and other alternatives may redraw global shipping patterns and threaten the Mediterranean’s role as an inter‑ocean hub.

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Geopolitical Competition
Global powers combine port investments, digital platforms and CCAM standards to consolidate influence across maritime corridors and hinterland logistics chains.
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Route Diversification
Emerging Arctic options, trans‑African corridors and alternative Asia–Europe routes could divert flows and investment away from Mediterranean gateways if the EU does not act strategically.
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Port-Centric Vulnerabilities
Key EU Mediterranean ports (e.g. Koper, Trieste, Rijeka, Messina, Valencia and peers) face compounded risks from geopolitical shocks, climate impacts and fragmented CCAM deployment.
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Diplomacy Gap
No dedicated cross‑corridor mechanism currently articulates a shared Mediterranean voice on CCAM geopolitics, connectivity diplomacy and investment priorities within and beyond the EU.
Core Concept

BlueDiplomacy — An Innovation & Policy Roadmap

BlueDiplomacy develops an integrated roadmap to secure the Mediterranean as a resilient inter‑ocean basin and core CCAM corridor for the EU. The project links geopolitical foresight, transport economics and CCAM technology pathways with concrete governance and diplomacy tools. Focus ports include Koper, Trieste, Rijeka, Messina, Valencia and comparable gateways, together with their hinterland corridors and regional ecosystems.

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MODULE 1
Geopolitics & Corridors Observatory
Scenario‑driven assessment of global CCAM geopolitics, emerging sea routes and connectivity initiatives, and their impact on Mediterranean ports and inter‑ocean linkages.
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MODULE 2
Resilient CCAM Supply Chains Lab
System‑level analysis and modelling of port‑centric CCAM supply chains, identifying vulnerabilities, resilience levers and investment options under multiple geopolitical and climate scenarios.
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MODULE 3
BlueDiplomacy Network & Toolkit
Strategic coordination network and advocacy platform, delivering an open‑access roadmap, policy briefs and a Mediterranean CCAM diplomacy playbook for EU and international fora.
Geopolitics & Geoeconomics Port & Corridor Analytics CCAM Technology Pathways Policy & Diplomacy Tools
Consortium Profile

Mediterranean-Focused, Interdisciplinary Partnership

We are building a geographically balanced consortium of ~10–12 partners anchored in EU Mediterranean ports and their hinterlands, with links to Arctic and global CCAM governance. If your institution matches one of the profiles below, we welcome your expression of interest.

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Port & Corridor Leaders
Core Gateway Partners
Port authorities and logistics clusters from key EU Mediterranean gateways (e.g. Koper, Trieste, Rijeka, Messina, Valencia) with mandates for innovation, sustainability and international cooperation.
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Geopolitics & Policy Hubs
Universities / Think Tanks
Institutions with expertise in geopolitics, geoeconomics, EU external action, Arctic governance or connectivity diplomacy, able to lead scenario‑building and policy analysis.
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CCAM & Logistics Tech
Industry & RTOs
Technology providers and research organisations active in CCAM, port automation, traffic management, digital twins and data platforms, contributing deployment know‑how.
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Regions & Socioeconomics
Authorities & Stakeholders
Regional authorities, chambers of commerce and civil‑society organisations involved in maritime regions’ development, just transition and skills for CCAM‑enabled economies.
Express interest: Use the feedback form on the final slide to describe your institution's profile and potential contribution. Contact: luka.juri@emuni.si  ·  Consortium formation: 2026
Methodology · 36 Months

5 Work Packages — Geopolitics, Analytics & Governance

WP1
Geopolitics & Scenario Foundations
Conceptual framework and scenarios for CCAM geopolitics and maritime corridors. Maps global actors, competing routes and Mediterranean vulnerability/resilience profiles. Months 1–8.
WP2
Corridors & Supply Chains Modelling
Data‑driven mapping and modelling of port‑hinterland CCAM supply chains under multiple geopolitical and climate scenarios. Identifies critical nodes, dependencies and resilience options. Months 4–24.
WP3
Innovation & Governance Roadmap
Co‑designed roadmap combining technological pathways, governance reforms and investment priorities for resilient CCAM deployment in the Mediterranean, aligned with EU strategies. Months 10–30.
WP4
BlueDiplomacy Network & Outreach
Establishes the BlueDiplomacy coordination network and advocacy platform. Delivers targeted policy dialogues, a Mediterranean CCAM diplomacy playbook and engagement with EU/international fora. Months 6–36.
WP5
Ethics, Impact & Management
Cross‑cutting coordination, ethics and risk management, gender equality, data governance and impact monitoring. Ensures coherent integration of geopolitical, technical and socioeconomic work. Months 1–36.
Integration: Geopolitics, transport analytics and CCAM technology work hand‑in‑hand. WP1 and WP3 provide the strategic backbone; WP2 and WP4 translate it into actionable models, networks and diplomacy tools.
Expected Impact

Towards EU Leadership in CCAM Geopolitics

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Analytical Impact
State‑of‑the‑art mapping of CCAM geopolitics and Mediterranean corridors, widely usable by academia, industry and policy‑makers. Open datasets and visualisation tools on routes, actors and scenarios.
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Socioeconomic & Industrial Impact
Actionable strategies for ports, logistics and CCAM actors to invest in resilient deployment and safeguard competitiveness, supporting quality jobs and green transition in Mediterranean regions.
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Policy & Diplomacy Impact
Evidence‑based innovation and policy roadmap feeding into the CCAM Partnership, TEN‑T, EU maritime security and external action. A durable BlueDiplomacy network articulating a Mediterranean voice in global fora.
Call alignment: Direct contribution to the call’s aim of strengthening EU leadership, autonomy and socioeconomic resilience in CCAM by anticipating geopolitical competition and shaping innovation pathways.
Legacy: A living roadmap, datasets and a network that outlast the project, enabling future demonstrators, investments and policy initiatives in Mediterranean and Arctic‑linked corridors.
Join the Consortium · Share Feedback

Interested in BlueDiplomacy?

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💡 Ideas & Concept
🤝 Partnership Interest
📦 Work Packages
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