The first focus group of the BLUESLINKS project was held.

The Argonauta Association (PP7) organized the first focus group as part of the Blueslinks project – New Skills for the Blue Economy. The first meeting of the focus group was held in Šibenik at the INavis Center on October 29, bringing together participants from the blue economy sector in Šibenik-Knin County.

The project was introduced to the attendees by Sanja Kovačev, the project manager at the Argonaut Association. She presented the goals of the project, its current and upcoming activities, and the opportunities for stakeholders to get involved. Special emphasis was placed on the benefits for stakeholders joining the project, as networking within the blue economy sector is one of the main objectives, with a focus on fostering connections for smart S3 specialization, introducing innovations in the business operations of SMEs, and linking with the labor market.

Ante Sladoljev, a consultant with extensive experience in the blue economy sector, informed the participants about the state of the blue economy in our county. During his presentation, he outlined the research frameworks carried out as part of the Blueslinks project, as well as shared examples of good practices from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

The focus group sparked an engaging discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the blue economy in our region, as well as opportunities for collaboration among the stakeholders. A particular focus was placed on the need for networking, streamlining administrative processes, and adjusting regulations to better support the sector.

The meeting concluded with a summary of the gathered participants’ conclusions, grouped by sector. Educational institutions, SMEs, innovation centers, and representatives of public bodies each shared their perspectives on the current state of the blue economy. The first focus group session raised numerous important questions and laid a solid foundation for planning the next focus group, scheduled for November.

We invite all interested stakeholders in the blue economy – especially those involved in the nautical, fishing, fish tourism, and aquaculture sectors – to join us in the next stages of the project. For more information, please contact Sanja Kovačev at sanja.kovacev@argonauta.hr or call 091 303 3067.