Navalia Meeting and Blue Zone Forum Join Forces to Host Spain’s Largest Maritime Event in 2025
Navalia and the Cádiz Free Trade Zone have unveiled an event that will turn Cádiz into a major national hub for innovation and networking, with the naval industry and the blue economy as key players from September 24 to 26.
In September 2025, Cádiz will become Spain’s greatest meeting point, a centre for reflection, knowledge-sharing, and networking for the maritime sector. This will be made possible by the joint celebration of Navalia Meeting and Blue Zone Forum, two events coming together thanks to the strong collaboration between Navalia and the Cádiz Free Trade Zone, with additional support from the Cádiz Maritime Naval Cluster.
Presented today within the Cádiz Free Trade Zone at Incubazul, in the Europa building, the event will turn the city into a hub of innovation, bringing together the naval innovation spearheaded by Navalia and the sustainable industrial development driven by the Cádiz Free Trade Zone.
Fran González, Delegate of the Cádiz Free Trade Zone, and Javier Arnau, director of Navalia, alongside Jesús Rodríguez, Vice President of the Cádiz Maritime Naval Cluster, have confirmed that this major gathering will take place from September 24 to 26 at the Cádiz Conference Centre. Such an event will convene experts from the blue economy and the naval industry, transforming Cádiz into an international forum where entrepreneurs, business, institutions, and professionals will meet. As in previous editions, there will be exhibition stands for sponsors and exhibitors, as well as a dedicated space for live demonstrations from startups and participating companies.
Both Javier Arnau and Fran González emphasized that the event will be focusing on highly relevant topics for the blue and naval sectors, all from an innovative and sustainable perspective. Businesses, institutions, and experts will share their insights, concerns, and solutions through a compelling program of presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions.
Fran González expressed his excitement about merging Blue Zone Forum with Navalia Meeting, following a successful 2024 edition co-organized with the University of Cádiz (UCA). He described this past collaboration as “an enriching experience”, reinforcing his belief that joint efforts strengthen any initiative. He added:
"It is a great honour to welcome the experts brought by Navalia, who, along with those in the blue economy and Industry 4.0 ecosystem of the Cádiz Free Trade Zone, will create a highly specialized, engaging, and productive environment.”
González also thanked Navalia for choosing Cádiz and recognizing the value of the Blue Zone Forum, which has already demonstrated high standards in its previous two editions. Additionally, he acknowledged the Cádiz Maritime Naval Cluster for its dedication to the maritime sector and its efforts to elevate Cádiz’s presence on both national and international stages.
For his part, Javier Arnau highlighted the unique opportunity presented by combining these two major events, stating that this joint of efforts will result in "the most significant maritime-related event in Spain in 2025." He emphasized that Cádiz was chosen deliberately, highlighting:
"The city is a benchmark in the naval sector, thanks to the crucial role played by its shipyards in vessel construction and repair.”
Since its origin in 2006, Navalia has become Spain’s most important naval industry fair. Held biennially, its primary mission is to serve as a promotional platform for Spain’s naval sector and as an international meeting point for companies involved in shipbuilding and auxiliary industries. With nine successful editions and over 20 years of experience, Navalia has established itself among Europe’s top three naval fairs.
Given the biennial nature of the main fair, Navalia Meeting was created in response to exhibitors' demand for an annual gathering. This event offers a more intimate and reflective setting for the industry. The 2025 edition will be the third, following previous meetings in Vigo (2021) and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (2023).
This year, the Blue Zone Forum celebrates its third edition, following those of 2023 and 2024, being last year’s edition organized in collaboration with the University of Cádiz (UCA). For two consecutive years, the event has transformed Cádiz into a key forum for reflection on the transition toward a more sustainable socio-economic model, primarily based on the oceans and seas as a major opportunity for the planet's future. It showcases the latest technological advancements within a collaborative and innovative environment.
In 2024, the Cádiz Free Trade Zone and the UCA joined forces to merge the scientific and business worlds, dedicating exclusive spaces to the role of women in the Blue Economy and the Biotechnology sector. This initiative brought together leading national and international figures and experts, complemented by practical workshops, networking events, and an exhibition area.