The Blue Economy—including fishing, aquaculture, nautical services, and other sea-related activities—is one of the key driving forces of the European Union’s coastal regions.
Although traditional Blue Economy sectors have a strong history and significant economic potential, many currently face serious challenges: a lack of innovation, a shortage of skilled labor, low levels of digitalization, and limited access to modern business solutions. Smaller and remote maritime areas are particularly affected, where SMEs often lack the capacity to keep pace with rapid market changes and innovation trends.
The BLUESLINKS project is designed to address these specific challenges by creating a robust cross-border network that connects the business sector, educational institutions, development agencies, and innovation centers from Italy and Croatia.
The goal is to support the modernization of traditional Blue Economy sectors, enhance their digital and innovation capacities, and strengthen employment opportunities for youth in coastal communities.
What is BLUESLINKS Developing?
Innovation Hub Network (BLUESLINKS S3 Hub Network)
The project is establishing a specialized network of innovation centers providing support to 80 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from three target sectors: fisheries and aquaculture, nautical activities, and fishing tourism.
Companies are offered:
- A catalog of innovative and digital business solutions;
- Access to experts and IT tools;
- Support for sustainable and smart business models.
- The aim is to improve the sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience of SMEs in the face of major environmental and economic challenges.
Three Mechanisms for Connecting the Labor Market and Entrepreneurs
The project develops new, creative ways to bridge the gap between businesses and young professionals or job seekers through:
An online platform for SMEs and individuals interested in Blue Economy careers;
Three hackathons (covering fisheries & aquaculture, nautics, and fishing tourism) involving more than 150 young people and SMEs;
Three cross-border job fairs, creating a space for direct connection between employers and the future workforce.
The hackathons are a particularly innovative part of the project, as they provide space for prototyping, solving real sectoral challenges, and presenting ideas that can evolve into concrete business solutions.
Training, Events, and Study Visits for Skill Development
The project organizes three groups of educational activities:
- Info days and professional workshops across all three sectors to increase SME knowledge on digital transformation, access to capital, marketing, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
- Open exchanges and field visits for pupils, students, and teachers to directly experience work environments such as ports, mariculture sites, shipping companies, tourism businesses, and innovation centers.
- School and youth engagement through practical work, study visits, workshops, mentoring, and vocational guidance.
These activities raise awareness of career opportunities in the Blue Economy and contribute to creating a new generation of experts.
Project Goals
The project aims to:
- Strengthen SMEs and their innovation capacities;
- Increase youth employability through new skills and practical experience;
- Promote sustainable, digital, and circular business models in coastal sectors;
- Foster cooperation between Italy and Croatia in the fields of innovation and the Blue Economy;
- Support local communities in creating more resilient and competitive economies.
- BLUESLINKS combines tradition and innovation, building the foundations for the sustainable development of the Adriatic region and paving the way for new business models, jobs, and technologies that preserve the sea and coastal areas.
Key Objectives:
Establish a cross-border network that promotes the adoption of key S3 (Smart Specialization Strategy) principles within traditional sectors of the Blue Economy and maritime affairs.
Provide innovative and smart services for SMEs in traditional Blue Economy and maritime sectors to stimulate transformative pathways.
Activate three continuous linking mechanisms aimed at enhancing employment capacities in traditional Blue Economy and maritime sectors at a cross-border level
