The Blue Economy, a dynamic field intertwining ocean sustainability, innovation, and economic progress, stands as a beacon of hope for fostering inclusive growth while advancing sustainable practices. This systematic literature review embarks on a journey to unravel the intricate relationship between innovation and sustainable practices within the Blue Economy, to uncover how innovation transforms and promotes sustainability, and to pinpoint barriers to adoption of innovative technologies and processes. By delving into the multifaceted landscape of sustainability and innovation studies within the Blue Economy, this study illuminates the potential of innovative approaches to drive sustainability in coastal and marine areas. With global attention shifting toward ocean sustainability due to survival risks and resource scarcity, this study addresses two central questions: how does innovation drive sustainable practices within the Blue Economy, and what barriers prevent the widespread adoption of these innovations? Using this interrogation as a compass to navigate the existing literature, and through a comprehensive analysis of the role of innovation in promoting sustainable practices, this review aims to provide hints for the main directions for a sustainable Blue Economy.

This article examines the dynamics of governance, stakeholder collaboration, and resource allocation in developing smart regions within peripheral territories. Using the Algarve (Portugal) as a case study—a region characterized by its peripheral status and reliance on tourism—this research explores efforts to integrate technological innovations and promote economic diversification. Data were collected from document research, stakeholder surveys, and interviews, indicating challenges including fragmented governance structures, resource constraints, and limited citizen engagement in innovation ecosystems. Drawing on comparative insights from other peripheral and more advanced smart region initiatives, this study highlights the critical role of public-private partnerships, active citizen participation, and context-specific governance strategies in achieving sustainable growth. While best practices provide valuable experiences, this study emphasizes the need for tailored solutions suited to each regional socioeconomic context.

The blue economy has emerged as a key sector for linking sustainability and innovation, yet existing research has largely overlooked how firms operationalize these processes in practice. This study addresses that gap by asking: How do Portuguese blue economy firms embed sustainability‐oriented innovation (SOI) into their strategies, and what institutional conditions enable or constrain it? This study explores SOI through an analysis of five Portuguese firms. Adopting a qualitative approach, it employs semistructured interviews, supported by content comparison techniques and thematic coding. The findings indicate that stakeholder collaboration, circular economy principles, and renewable energy integration support sustainability performance, whereas financial constraints, regulatory inefficiencies, and bureaucratic hurdles limit broader adoption. Drawing on institutional theory, the resource‐based view, and the triple bottom line framework, the study contributes theoretically by showing how SOI is negotiated between institutional pressures and firm capabilities, revealing tensions between compliance and strategic agency. The study underscores the importance of institutional support, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive business strategies in overcoming systemic barriers. These results provide practical direction for policymakers and business leaders, highlighting the need for streamlined regulation, targeted financial incentives, and cross‐sector collaboration. For policymakers, this means aligning incentives with SME capacities and building collaborative governance platforms; for firms, it means leveraging partnerships and resource‐based advantages to scale sustainable business models. By clarifying both institutional dynamics and firm‐level practices, the article advances understanding of how sustainability transitions are enacted within the blue economy.

This chapter explores the complex dynamics of managing overtourism and short-term rentals, particularly prevalent in cities in southern European countries. Focusing on the related population and commercial displacement issues, this study seeks to understand local responses to overtourism and its link to short-term rentals. The chapter begins with a comprehensive literature review on the topic and a comparative analysis of Florence (Italy) and Lisbon (Portugal). The study uses available quantitative data to unravel the dynamics of short-term rentals in both cities. The empirical part includes an analysis of interviews conducted with residents' organizations dealing with these challenges to delineate coping strategies. With significant policy implications for tourism management, the study advocates for increased attention to the specific experiences and linkages between overtourism and short-term rentals, urging policymakers to prioritize the perspectives of those most affected by these phenomena.