•    Department of Engineering and Architecture - Prof. Vittorio Bucci
•    Call: INTERREG V A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme Restricted Call for Proposals (IT-HR Clusters)
•    CUP: J93C23002270007 
•    Project Coordinator: Polytechnic of Šibenik
•    UniTS funding: 168.505 €

Abstract: The MareSkill project aims to address the gap between labor market needs and the skills available in the blue economy of the cooperation area. This project focuses on developing and implementing pilot activities to promote education, upskilling (enhancing existing skills), and reskilling (training in new skills) programs specifically for blue economy sectors. These sectors include marine and coastal tourism, aquaculture, maritime, and offshore energy.
Through these education and training programs, the project will provide students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in these industries. By doing so, MareSkill supports the growth of these sectors by ensuring a steady supply of skilled workers and identifying future skills and competency needs. This will involve developing appropriate training and curricula at the cross-border level, ensuring that the educational content is aligned with industry requirements.
Moreover, the project aims to achieve better alignment between industry needs and occupational profiles with the training and curricula offered. This involves evaluating current training and education methods to effectively enhance employment opportunities and career prospects in the blue economy sectors. By providing targeted groups with relevant skills and knowledge, MareSkill helps bolster these industries, supporting their growth and sustainability.

•    Department of Engineering and Architecture – Prof. Elio Padoano
•    Call: INTERREG V A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme Restricted Call for Proposals (IT-HR Clusters)
•    CUP: J93C23002180002 
•    Project Coordinator: UNIVERSITY IN RIJEKA, FACULTY OF MARITIME STUDIES
•    UniTS funding: 256.400 €

Abstract: The project aims to improve sustainable cross-border maritime mobility by demonstrating feasible solutions for the application of emission¬-free fuels (green hydrogen) in cross-border and regional maritime routes and transferring new solutions to port authorities, carriers, and other stakeholders throughout the program area (Croatia and Italy) .
The project will enable green transition of cross¬border maritime transport by demonstrating new solutions and providing concrete investment plans and commitment to increase the use of zero emission fuels until 2050, thus contributing to European green deal goals to reduce maritime sector emissions by 90% and directly contributing to the strategic orientations and expected impacts set in EU mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters" to achieve zero pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the EU's oceans and waters. TransH2 is focused on development of innovative solutions for CB maritime transport, including hydrogen fuelled vessels and the accompanying fuelling infrastructure in ports in order to achieve the European Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy target: that zero-emission vessels will become ready for market by 2030.

•    Department of Engineering and Architecture - Prof. Vittorio Bucci 
•    Call: INTERREG V A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme Restricted Call for Proposals (IT-HR Clusters)
•    CUP: F53B22000050005
•    Project Coordinator: T2I-TRASFERIMENTO TECNOLOGICO E INNOVAZIONE SCARL
•    UniTS funding: 41.343 €

Abstract: The project main goal is to strengthen competitiveness and innovation capacity of SMEs in the area, especially focusing on the opportunities offered by Data driven solutions in the circular and sea economy.

•    Department of Economics, Business, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences – Prof. Guido Bortoluzzi 
•    Call: INTERREG V A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme Restricted Call for Proposals (IT-HR Clusters)
•    CUP: F53B22000050005  
•    Project Coordinator: T2I-TRASFERIMENTO TECNOLOGICO E INNOVAZIONE SCARL
•    UniTS financing: 91.030 €

Abstract: This is a capitalization project of the INTERREG VA Italy-Croatia - CBC Program - Restricted Call for Proposals (IT-HR Clusters) 2021 program which aims to capitalize on the results of previous strategic projects, and as regards the University of Trieste, of the BEAT project which officially ended in 2020. 

•    Department of Engineering and Architecture – Prof. Lorenzo Castelli
•    Call:  INTERREG VI-A Italy–Croatia 2021-2027 - 1st Call for Proposals - Standard project proposals (28/11/2022-20/03/2023)
•    CUP: J93C23002000006
•    Project Coordinator: Università degli Studi di Trieste
•    UniTS financing: 317.718 €

Abstract: The goal of the project is to provide ecosystem tourism stakeholders with innovative methods and tools to identify existing criticalities, hypotheses for solutions and room for improvement using the Universal Design (UD) approach to plan and optimize interventions to reduce multidimensional barriers (not only architectural but also sensory, cognitive, communicative, and economic) that limit access to the most fragile people in the enjoyment of the tourism ecosystem. 

•    Department of Life Sciences – Prof. Giovanni Bacaro
•    Call:  INTERREG VI-A Italy–Croatia 2021-2027 - 1st Call for Proposals - Standard project proposals (28/11/2022-20/03/2023)
•    CUP: J93B24000000007 
•    Project Coordinator: Istituto per l'agricoltura e il turismo/Instituta za poljoprivredu i turizam
•    UniTS financing: 149.999,55 €

Abstract: THE COMMON CHALLENGE OF THE PROGRAMME AREA ALL PARTNERS ARE JOINTLY TACKLING IN THIS PROJECT

WASTEREDUCE is the first Interreg Italy-Croatia project that supports EU and local environmental protection policies and practices related to waste management in protected and Natura 2000 sites. The cross-border challenge is reducing waste's impact on green and blue areas and improving waste management in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, contributing to several key EU directives and strategies: Habitat, Bird, Waste and Water Framework Directives, and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Environmental pollution in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites in Italy and Croatia by uncontrolled waste generation by human activities is one of the main threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, especially aquatic ecosystems. Many protected areas are crossed by aquatic ecosystems, representing the main “vehicle” for waste toward the sea. The presence of waste in the environment of these areas can cause a loss of biodiversity, alter ecosystem processes, increase diffuse and point sources of water pollution, decrease recreational values, and impair the quality of human activities.

WASTEREDUCE brings together 8 key public and private partners from Italy and Croatia. With their knowledge, experience, and the transfer of knowledge on this subject, the partnership will work in synergy to fight against pollution, i.e., reduce the impact of waste on the environment of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites and, indirectly, to preserve their ecosystems.
The project will primarily enable institutions managing protected areas and Natura 2000 sites and other relevant stakeholders working in these areas, as well as national, regional, and local public authorities, to address common challenges related to the problem of waste generation in these vulnerable areas. These challenges include a) gaps in identifying and evaluating existing policies and innovative practices aimed at waste prevention and reduction, b) understanding visitors' binning behavior and negligent or malicious abandonment of waste and changing these behaviors, c) lack of awareness of waste accumulation's environmental and socio-economic risks, d) low cooperation between public authorities and key stakeholders to implement integrated waste management measures and activities.

THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT AND THE EXPECTED CHANGE THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION

The project aims to improve waste management in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites by implementing concrete and joint actions to address the waste phenomenon from different angles and intervention methods. To this end, the project will implement concrete actions to monitor, prevent, reduce, and mitigate waste's impact.
The expected change brought about by this project includes a) improving the existing waste management policies and practices (based on scientific knowledge and best practices) based on a participatory approach and adapted to the specificities of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, b) raising awareness and changing the behaviour of visitors and other stakeholders whose action can significantly influence the prevention and reduction of waste in protected and Natura 2000 areas, c) reduce the environmental, socio-economic costs of waste management and related impacts, d) improving the cooperation between stakeholders at the cross-border, national, regional and local levels in the field of waste management.
THE OUTPUTS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE AND THOSE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THEM
The WASTEREDUCE project follows a transboundary cooperation approach, involving all relevant stakeholders (at cross-board, national, regional, and local levels) in all its activities to deliver:
Output 1. Report on the understanding of human behaviour aimed at binning behaviour and waste abandonment behaviour; identification of needs aimed at waste prevention and reduction in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites; assessment of the state and activities focused on waste issues of institutions that manage or operate in protected and Natura 200 areas
Output 2. Developed cross-border policies and strategies aimed at monitoring, preventing, and reducing waste in protected and Natura 2000 areas
Output 3. Developed and implemented solutions for monitoring and preventing, and reducing waste in protected and Natura 2000 areas
Output 4. Establishment of pilot-protected and Natura 2000 areas with specific regards to rivers and coastal areas that have implemented the WASTEREDUCE approach to waste prevention and reduction and act as models through which the approach is extended to other protected and Natura 2000 areas
Output 5. Participatory waste management and awareness-raising actions aimed at promoting citizen involvement in an integrated perspective (local community, schools, tourism sector, environmental institutions)
Output 6. An established network of protected and Natura 2000 areas, key stakeholders (waste utilities, etc.), and a waste management mechanism in which the WASTEREDUCE approach has been successfully replicated with the assumption of sustainability and extension to other areas after the end of the project.