The HGK Project Receives Recognition from the European Commission for Blue Economy

The Innovamare project, led by HGK, has been selected as a Blue Champion as part of a public call issued by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission. The announcement of the Blue Champions took place yesterday during the EIB ADventure Debt Summit in Luxembourg. This initiative selects 20 innovative companies, projects, and initiatives that the European Commission and EIB consider to be the best for the development of the blue economy in the EU, i.e., those that make a strong contribution to the EU mission Restore Our Oceans and Waters. The three key goals of the mission are the restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, the elimination of pollution, and the decarbonization of the blue economy.

– The key elements of the future development project Innovamare, which is planned with a total value of 40 million euros, include the development and construction of infrastructure, specifically the Competence Center for Marine Technologies in Šibenik and the Technology Park for Marine Technologies at the University of Zadar. The procurement of innovative technological equipment, the establishment of testing locations, and the development of marine technologies are planned – explained Mateo Ivanac, head of the Innovation System Department at HGK and leader of the Digital Innovation Hub InnovaMare.

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Mateo Ivanac

photo HGK

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The Innovamare project will have access to EIB advisory services and support in defining models and sources of financing, developing business models, and connecting with companies and organizations to create partnerships at the EU level based on this recognition.

A crucial part of the project in the upcoming period is also raising awareness of the impacts of the blue economy and the need for digital and green transformation, which will be carried out in collaboration with the E1 Blue Acceleration Festival, demonstrations of cleaning with innovative underwater technologies, and the restoration of marine ecosystems with divers as part of the E1 Blue Impact program, as well as the employment of 20 researchers.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce plays a key role in supporting its members towards sustainable practices, especially within the blue economy sector, which encompasses economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts.

– The blue economy in Croatia and Italy accounts for about 25 percent of GDP. Therefore, it is important to promote sustainable practices in these sectors, as well as to identify specific markets and technological innovations crucial for fostering a sustainable blue economy in Croatia – Ivanac explained.

The recognition from the European Commission is the third stage of development for this project. The original project was co-financed from the Interreg Italy – Croatia 2014 – 2020 program, was worth six million euros, and its partnership consortium consisted of 14 partners from Croatia and Italy. HGK was the project leader. As a result of the collaboration of partners on the project, several robotic-sensor solutions were developed within the Innovamare project: two Korkyra robots (for monitoring fish farms) and SWAMP (for monitoring environmental parameters in wetlands), as well as a system of smart buoys that will monitor sea quality. The project connected around 350 different stakeholders from Croatia and Italy.

As a result of the first strategic project Innovamare, the Digital Innovation HUB InnovaMare was established as an NGO. It was founded by 14 largest organizations in the field of marine technologies and marine protection from Croatia and Italy. As a continuation of the strategic project Innovamare, a new project called DIH InnovaMare “Cross-border digital innovation Hub for innovative marine technology” was obtained, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Italy – Croatia cross-border cooperation program 2021-2027. The project is led by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. The total value of the project is 1.6 million euros. The third stage of the project will be realized through a plan submitted under the Blue Champion call.