NALED at the International Events of the GROWTH4BLUE Project: Strengthening the Blue Economy in the Heart of the Adriatic
Better cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of the blue economy were at the heart of NALED representatives' and GROWTH4BLUE project team members' participation in a study visit to the Slovenian towns of Izola and Koper on 17 and 18 September 2025.
The events took place as part of the broader Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week 2025. On the first day, in Izola, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Primorska region organised a GROWTH4BLUE Project Info Day and the founding meeting of the Transnational Blue Economy Network (TBEN). A panel discussion brought together representatives of partner organisations, institutions and experts from the Adriatic-Ionian region, who discussed the challenges and opportunities for blue economy growth, from labour market needs and skills development to the role of innovation and scientific research in the sector.
The following day in Koper, cooperation took centre stage: at the project's third partner meeting, partners discussed progress in the implementation of activities, reviewed project management and financial monitoring, and aligned communication and other activities. Particular attention was given to the development of labour market analysis tools for the blue economy sector, as well as the preparation of pilot activities to be carried out by partners in the period ahead.
During the stay in Slovenia, study visits were also organised to good practice examples in the blue economy sector, including the Piran Salt Pans and the Port of Koper, where participants had the opportunity to learn about examples of sustainable development and the application of innovation across blue economy sectors.
Through active participation in these events, NALED, as a partner on the GROWTH4BLUE project, contributed to the exchange of experience and the deepening of regional cooperation in the areas of skills development, innovation and employment in the Adriatic-Ionian region.
