GROWTH4BLUE partners met in Bari
Representatives of NALED participated in the GROWTH4BLUE project partners’ meeting, held on July 2–3, 2025, in Bari, Italy, organized by Technopolis – the Science and Technology Park of the University of Bari. The event gathered project partners from across the Adriatic–Ionian region with the goal of exchanging experiences and agreeing on the next steps in the implementation of the project, which promotes the development of the Blue Economy based on innovation and sustainable use of resources.
During the meeting, partners presented progress reports from each participating country, exchanged experiences, and discussed upcoming activities aimed at transforming the Adriatic–Ionian region’s Blue Economy into a strong, future-ready sector. Discussions focused on promoting innovation, advancing technological development, and creating new employment opportunities in Blue Economy sectors across the Adriatic–Ionian region. Particular attention was given to the progress of the comprehensive Blue Economy Ecosystem Analysis, which identifies key sectors and opportunities for innovation, while the Labor Market Analysis Report—providing insights into in-demand skills and competencies and pointing to gaps in the education and training systems—was highlighted as a central element.
An online tool for job postings analysis, developed using Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to extract and analyze data for actionable insights, was also presented. Partners also focused on the establishment of the Regional Blue Economy Networks (RBENs), as well as the Transnational Blue Economy Network (TBEN), which will launch its activities in September 2025.
This meeting marked another important milestone in strengthening cross-border cooperation, aligning project activities with the objectives of the Interreg IPA ADRION programme, and increasing impact at both the regional and macro-regional level.
The GROWTH4BLUE project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the Blue Economy sector through strategic innovations and technological excellence, as well as to improve the education system in line with labor market needs. The focus is on sectors with high potential for sustainable growth, such as fisheries and aquaculture, shipbuilding, river tourism, port industries, and renewable energy sources.
The project’s results are expected to contribute to greater economic competitiveness through the application of innovations and new technologies, the creation of sustainable jobs, and the enhancement of environmental sustainability through the responsible use of marine and river resources.
