interviews: Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Andrea Vitlov, Head of Communications at the University of Zadar; Donata Vianelli, Rector of the University of Trieste
A new European Union–funded initiative is directing millions of euros toward small and medium-sized companies operating in the Adriatic’s maritime economy, as policymakers and universities seek to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.
The project, known as LEAP TO BLUE, was presented this week at the University of Trieste. Supported by the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 program, it brings together universities, chambers of commerce and innovation agencies from both countries to help businesses in the so-called blue economy navigate the twin transitions to greener and more digital operations.
With a total budget of about €6.1 million and a timeline running through June 2028, LEAP TO BLUE has been designated an “Operation of Strategic Importance” by the Interreg program, placing it among the most significant cross-border initiatives in the Adriatic region.
At the center of the project is nearly €3 million in vouchers that will be distributed to small and medium-sized enterprises. A total of 162 vouchers, each worth roughly €18,000, will allow companies to access services ranging from advanced training in digital tools and environmental, social and governance standards to support for innovation and internationalization.
To encourage lasting cooperation across the Adriatic, the vouchers will be awarded to pairs of companies—one Italian and one Croatian—creating 81 cross-border partnerships. Two application rounds are planned, in autumn 2026 and summer 2027, and the services will be provided free of charge, within European state-aid rules.
The project is led by the University of Zadar and includes the University of Trieste, Unioncamere Veneto, ARTI Puglia, the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and the Croatian Chamber of Economy. The University of Trieste is responsible for the project’s education and training component, with more than €400,000 allocated to programs focused on upskilling and reskilling workers for the digital and environmental challenges facing the maritime sector.
Organizers say the initiative reflects a broader European effort to ensure that industries tied to the sea—shipping, marine technology, coastal services and related fields—remain competitive while reducing their environmental footprint.
By combining funding, training and cross-border collaboration, LEAP TO BLUE is intended not only to support individual companies, but also to strengthen the Adriatic blue economy as an integrated, sustainable system.
