This ERDF-funded project aims to stimulate investment and innovation in fishing, shipbuilding, aquaculture and marine and coastal tourism in and around the Adriatic-Ionian Seas.

The ‘Blue Boost’ project is aiming to develop a transnational innovation strategy and joint action plan for marine clusters in the Adriatic and Ionian regions. It will foster collaboration between actors by creating ‘new innovation bodies’, such as innovation hubs and co-working spaces.

Blue Boost will also provide innovation vouchers worth up to EUR 9 000 each to help SMEs implement desirable and innovative projects, with the additional support of an innovation coach. In total, EUR 315 000 will be allocated to a minimum of 35 small-scale projects under the Blue Innovation voucher scheme.

The project will also organise labs, workshops and hackathons related to blue growth in a bid to foster more innovation, forward-thinking and future strategies around blue and green tech, aquaculture, green shipbuilding, robotics and more.