BLUESLINKS Project: 2. Focus Group.

On Wednesday, November 27th, the second focus group for the BLUESLINKS project was held at the Šibenik Polytechnic. The event was attended by representatives from various stakeholders in the blue economy, including small and medium-sized enterprises, marine protection institutions, educational institutions, and public authorities.

INNOVATION CENTER NETWORK AS A MEETING POINT FOR SUPPLY AND DEMAND

The main theme of the focus group was the establishment of the Innovation Center Network, a key element of the BLUESLINKS project, aimed at fostering collaboration between stakeholders in developing sustainable solutions for challenges in the blue economy. The discussion focused on ways to involve stakeholders in the network and the benefits it would provide, such as shared access to resources, innovations, and problem-solving.

Participants were presented with potential scenarios for the development of the blue economy, emphasizing the need for collaboration to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of proposed solutions. Based on their own experiences, stakeholders shared their views on current challenges and identified threats they expect in the future, including the impact of climate change and sociological, ecological, and economic changes.

EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS

The focus group was marked by the exchange of ideas and suggestions between key institutions and organizations, including the Ruđer Bošković Institute, Šibenik Polytechnic, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR), BlueDataB, Innovamare Technologies, the Chamber of Trades and Crafts Šibenik, the Punta Rata Sports Fishing Society, the Adria Fishing Cooperative, and LAGUR Lanterna. The BLUESLINKS project aims to network stakeholders to specialize small and medium-sized enterprises, foster business innovation in the blue economy, and align the labor market with the actual needs of the blue economy sector, addressing the demand for skilled labor and youth employment.

This gathering was an important step towards strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for the blue economy and the preservation of marine resources. Those interested in participating in the Innovation Center Network and other project activities can contact sanja.kovacev@argonauta.hr.