The Blue Economy as a Catalyst for Technological Development: the Experience of France and Germany

Faced with objective global challenges and striving to develop within the global trend of the blue economy, the leading countries of Western Europe are successfully using new technologies, including digital technologies, which are shaping the path to a greener future and strengthening their positions in the global economy. This path is aimed at mitigating the most acute environmental risks, strengthening its presence in the blue technology markets, as well as maintaining international cooperation in relevant segments of the global economy and achieving sustainable development goals. The article consistently analyzes the situation in the development of the blue economy in Germany and France, identifies their priorities, revealing the internal logic and inherent contradictions of this process. It is concluded that Germany and France have come a long way towards developing a blue economy based on the formation of national and pan-European strategies, and remain Western European leaders in the relevant field. However, the authors conclude that upon closer examination, these strategies reveal their deeply adaptive and largely contradictory nature. The author substantiates the point of view on the need for a systemic transformation of the marine economy and leadership in new industries in the field of environmental protection, especially in the field of renewable energy sources (RES), in order to create new opportunities to strengthen national positions in the global market in the future. The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, historical and logical methods, as well as special research methods such as system analysis, comparative analysis. The official documents of the governments of France, Germany and other countries, data from international organizations and the works of leading experts in the field under consideration were used as a theoretical and analytical base.