Strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs by developing strategic skills, providing access to qualified services and building cross-border collaborations along the blue-economy value chain: these are the goals of LEAP TO BLUE – Unleash the potential for joint transition in the blue economy, a project under the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 Programme presented today at the University of Trieste, which is a partner in the initiative through its Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (DEAMS).

The University of Trieste takes part in the project within a partnership led by the University of Zadar (Lead partner) and also involving Unioncamere del Veneto, ARTI Puglia – Regional Agency for Technology, Technology Transfer and Innovation, the University of Zagreb – FER and the Croatian Chamber of Economy.

LEAP TO BLUE is an OSI – Operation of Strategic Importance, i.e., a strategically relevant cross-border cooperation action selected within the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 Programme to address shared needs of Adriatic territories with joint, high-impact solutions. Running for 36 months until June 2028 and with a total budget of about €6.1 million, the project supports the digital and green twin transition of blue-economy companies through an integrated model combining capacity building – training and strengthening skills and organisational capabilities – and matchmaking and networking, i.e., connecting demand and supply and building collaboration networks between companies and innovation ecosystem actors.

“The University of Trieste,” explains Rubina Romanello, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Management and scientific lead for the University, “focuses in particular on upskilling – strengthening existing skills – and reskilling – developing new skills – to support human capital development and foster innovation, sustainability and growth.”

“As lead partner, the University of Zadar will be the scientific heart of the project,” says Andrea Vitlov from the University of Zadar, Communication Manager of LEAP TO BLUE. “Our goal is to turn research results into practical solutions that help the blue economy grow while keeping our environment healthy. We hope the project will become a blueprint for the future, showing that economic success and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand.”

As an OSI, LEAP TO BLUE is among the Programme’s more structured and financially significant projects, delivered by highly qualified partnerships and oriented towards tangible results, such as piloting new services and solutions and developing joint pathways in strategic sectors for the Adriatic area.

The six project partners will define a service catalogue for companies. Access will be regulated through a voucher scheme with two calls scheduled for autumn 2026 and summer 2027. The services offered to SMEs will focus on internationalisation, advanced training (on digital topics and ESG) and skills upgrading (upskilling) as well as innovation and technology transfer, with the aim of supporting companies through ongoing transitions and strengthening their competitiveness.

“LEAP TO BLUE supports blue-economy SMEs by providing, through a combination of vouchers and dedicated initiatives, fast access to specialised expertise, skills and cross-border partnerships that drive innovation and market growth,” states Jelena Grancarić Milin, Head of the Technology Transfer Department at the University of Zadar.

“The project,” Romanello continues, “has nearly €3 million available to fund 162 vouchers, with an average service value of €18,000 per company. The University of Trieste will be able to allocate more than €400,000 to support training and skills development pathways with a digital and environmental focus.”

Following the official presentation to the media, the University of Trieste will host in the afternoon the regional workshop “LEAP TO BLUE: Opportunities and Services for SMEs in the Blue Economy” to explore the project’s tools, services and opportunities and contribute to shaping an offer that genuinely matches companies’ needs.

The event is aimed at the project’s target audience: small and medium-sized enterprises operating in blue-economy sectors and actors in education, research and innovation support. “The workshop,” clarifies Guido Bortoluzzi, Vice Rector for relations with businesses and the territory at the University of Trieste, “is designed to bring SMEs and local stakeholders together and collect active feedback to define a service catalogue that meets companies’ needs, both in terms of content and access procedures.”

The event also includes an in-depth session on the main challenges for SMEs, with contributions – among others – from Francesco Venier, professor at the University of Trieste and MIB and an expert in organisational innovation; Carlo Poloni, professor at the University of Trieste and President of ESTECO; Luca Braidotti, professor at the University of Trieste and CEO of Sipeom Srl; and Bostjan Lozer, strategic advisor on business models.