MareSkill Final Conference

On 10 September 2026, the Final Conference of the project MareSkill-Smart and Innovative Blue Skills for Competitive Blue Economy was held at the University of Applied Sciences in Šibenik, bringing together project partners from Croatia and Italy, representatives of education and research institutions, businesses, public organisations, young researchers and other stakeholders from across the Blue Economy.

After more than two years of cross-border cooperation within the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme, the conference provided an opportunity to present key results, reflect on the experiences gained throughout the project and discuss how education, research and industry can work together to develop the skills needed for a sustainable and competitive Blue Economy.

In this regard, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, as one of the project partners, has developed a curriculum and the relevant learning materials for a dedicated course on Digital and Circular Transformation in the Blue Economy.

Throughout the  conference programme, participants were introduced to the project journey – from identifying skills gaps and labour market needs to developing training programmes, implementing pilot activities and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, international cooperation and capacity building.

A central part of the event was the stakeholder round table Blue Skills for the Future: Are Education and Industry Ready for the Next Generation of the Blue Economy? The discussion brought together Matija Bumbak (Platforma 22 d.o.o.), Petra Radobuljac Alcedo (University of Zadar), Vedran Slapničar (University of Zagreb) and Antonio Mikulić (University of Zagreb), who shared perspectives from business, education, research and the younger generation.

The discussion highlighted the importance of stronger links between education and labour market needs, practical and international learning experiences, interdisciplinary and digital skills, and closer cooperation between universities, research institutions and industry.

The Final Conference was also an opportunity to celebrate something that cannot always be measured through project indicators – the people, partnerships and connections created along the way. The friendly atmosphere, exchange of ideas and networking between partners, participants and stakeholders reflected the strong cooperation built throughout the project.

The project results are envisaged to go well beyond the training programmes developed and activities completed. In particular, their long-term impact will be ensured through the signing  between the project partners of a Framework Agreement on Cooperation within the Cross-Border Knowledge Hub, established as a lasting legacy of MareSkill.

The knowledge shared, skills developed and partnerships established provide a solid foundation for future cooperation and new opportunities across the Blue Economy.