INNOVABLUE: Innovation network for development of solutions and technologies for sustainable blue economy in the Adrion region

The INNOVABLUE project aims to foster a sustainable blue economy in the Adrion region by creating a dynamic innovation network. It brings together two key communities: BlueAIR’s Innovation Community and the Innovamare Digital Innovation Hub. INNOVABLUE overall objective is to capitalize and assure sustainability of Blue economy initiatives on the ADRION level with future joint activities arising from BlueAIR and Innovamare Innovation community with the aim to advance the current cooperation and invested efforts towards the creation of S3 thematic partnership in the blue economy and develop the grounds for interregional investment projects within the Adrion Region.

Through this collaboration, INNOVABLUE will boost marine technologies, foster innovation, and strengthen cross-border partnerships in the blue economy sector.

Key objectives include:

• Enhancing innovation ecosystems to promote collaboration among businesses, researchers, and authorities.
• Developing new regulatory frameworks to accelerate the adoption of blue technologies.
• Mapping funding opportunities and creating investment portfolios to support marine tech projects.
• Facilitating technology transfer to increase competitiveness and sustainability in the marine sector.

The objectives are focused to respond to key challenges by enhancing the innovation ecosystem to improve collaboration between 4helix stakeholders, develop new regulatory frameworks to tackle regulatory bottlenecks that slow down the adoption and scaling of innovative blue technologies, boost funding for blue technology projects by mapping potential funding opportunities, developing investment portfolios, and engaging stakeholders to support innovative marine technologies, and facilitating the technology transfer in the marine sector to strengthen the sectors competitiveness and sustainability.

The project’s outcomes will benefit SMEs, research institutions, and public authorities by providing access to resources, funding opportunities, expert knowledge, and living lab sites. INNOVABLUE will ensure long-term sustainability through continuous investment, partnerships, and mechanisms to update and refine outputs, supporting the region’s transition towards a resilient and innovative blue economy.

By leveraging past initiatives and expanding its innovation network, INNOVABLUE will create a model for other stakeholders to replicate, driving sustained progress in the blue economy well beyond the project’s duration.

Project budget in EUR 1.703.377,52

INTERREG funding in EUR 1.447.870,88

Project duration 07/2024-12/2026

This project is supported by the Interreg IPA ADRION programme under the Interreg Funds (European Regional Development Fund and IPA III).