The University of Trieste hosted the project meeting of the Interreg Italy–Croatia project MareSkill, bringing together project partners to plan the final activities ahead of the project’s completion in September 2026.

Activities continued with a study visit organized within the framework of the MareSkill and DIH Innovamare projects. The event involved project partners, students, early-career researchers and professionals working in the blue economy sector from both Italy and Croatia.

The study visit focused on innovation, sustainability and skills development for the blue economy in the Adriatic area. Both projects represent important examples of cross-border cooperation: DIH Innovamare supports the digital and technological transformation of the maritime sector through the involvement of companies, research centres and public institutions, while MareSkill promotes the development of new professional skills in the fields of boating, logistics and the wider blue economy, with particular attention to the challenges posed by the green and digital transitions.

The initiative also provided an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the University and the regional economic ecosystem. Organized with the contribution of the University of Trieste and Unioncamere del Veneto, in cooperation with Mare Tech FVG, the study visit enabled participants to gain first-hand insight into some of the most significant maritime and industrial realities of the region.

The programme included visits to the Port of Monfalcone, a strategic hub for logistics and maritime traffic in the Northern Adriatic, and to the production facilities of Groupe Beneteau Italia, an internationally recognized leader in the recreational boating industry. The visits offered participants a valuable opportunity to explore innovation processes shaping the sector and to foster dialogue between academia, research institutions and industry.

Representatives of the Municipality of Monfalcone also took part in the event, presenting local development strategies and growth opportunities linked to the blue economy, while highlighting the area's role as a hub for innovation and competitiveness within the Adriatic maritime sector.

The initiative confirmed the University of Trieste’s role as a key player in research, education and innovation in the maritime field. Through its participation in European projects and its collaboration with companies, institutions and regional stakeholders, the University contributes to the development of advanced skills and the creation of networks that support sustainable growth and competitiveness across the Adriatic region.

Photo: Participants in the project meeting and study visit organized within the Interreg Italy–Croatia projects MareSkill and DIH Innovamare, hosted by the University of Trieste in collaboration with institutional and industrial partners from the region.