On 3–4 September 2026, the BLUESLINKS Final Conference was held in Dubrovnik, marking the conclusion of more than two years of cooperation between partners from Croatia and Italy in developing new skills, innovation and opportunities in the Blue Economy. The two-day event brought together project partners, representatives of businesses, universities, institutions, researchers and young participants from Croatia and Italy. The conference provided an opportunity to present the main project results, exchange experiences and good practices, and reflect on the contribution of cross-border cooperation to the development of the Blue Economy. The programme focused on the three key sectors addressed by BLUESLINKS – the nautical sector, aquaculture and small-scale fisheries, and fisheries tourism. The sessions presented the results of Info Days, exchanges with SMEs and hackathons organised throughout the project. A special part of the conference was dedicated to students’ and graduates’ skills and innovation, highlighting the importance of involving the younger generation in the development of the Blue Economy. Students and graduates from Italian educational institutions, together with Croatian and Italian hackathon participants, shared their experiences and ideas through presentations, videos and infographics. The session was chaired by Sanja Đurman and Sanja Kovačev from Argonauta, and demonstrated how practical experience, international cooperation and working on real-life challenges can contribute to the development of new knowledge and skills. The BLUESLINKS Digital Platform was also presented during the conference, providing access to project materials, information on Blue Economy sectors, expert support and consultation opportunities. The programme also included visits to examples of good practice in Dubrovnik, including the Natural History Museum of Dubrovnik and Aquarium Dubrovnik. The second day of the conference was hosted by the University of Dubrovnik and included a press conference focused on the results and added value of BLUESLINKS for Adriatic coastal areas. The programme continued with a study visit to the laboratories of the University of Dubrovnik, where participants had the opportunity to discover the ECO simulator. The Final Conference marked the end of the BLUESLINKS project, while at the same time opening a new chapter of cooperation. Throughout the project, young people, educational institutions, businesses, researchers and project partners from both sides of the Adriatic were connected, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, the development of new ideas and the strengthening of cross-border cooperation. Although the project is coming to an end, the knowledge, experiences and partnerships built through BLUESLINKS remain a valuable foundation for new opportunities, innovation and sustainable development of the Blue Economy across the Adriatic.

Dvodnevni program okupio je projektne partnere, predstavnike poduzeća, sveučilišta, institucija, istraživače i mlade sudionike iz Hrvatske i Italije. Konferencija je bila prilika za predstavljanje ključnih rezultata projekta, razmjenu iskustava i dobrih praksi te osvrt na doprinos prekogranične suradnje razvoju plavog gospodarstva.

Program je bio usmjeren na tri ključna sektora kojima se BLUESLINKS bavio – nautički sektor, akvakulturu i malo priobalno ribarstvo te ribarstveni turizam. Predstavljeni su rezultati Info dana, susreta i razmjene s malim i srednjim poduzećima te hackathona provedenih tijekom trajanja projekta.

Poseban dio konferencije bio je posvećen vještinama i inovacijama učenika i mladih, čime je istaknuta važnost uključivanja nove generacije u razvoj plavog gospodarstva. Učenici i studenti iz talijanskih obrazovnih institucija, zajedno s hrvatskim i talijanskim sudionicima hackathona, predstavili su svoja iskustva i ideje kroz prezentacije, video materijale i infografike. Sesiju je vodila Sanja Kovačev iz Argonaute, a sudjelovanje mladih pokazalo je koliko praktično iskustvo, međunarodna suradnja i rad na stvarnim izazovima mogu doprinijeti razvoju novih znanja i vještina.

Tijekom konferencije predstavljena je i BLUESLINKS Digital Platforma, koja korisnicima pruža pristup projektnim materijalima, informacijama o sektorima plavog gospodarstva, stručnoj podršci i mogućnostima konzultacija.

Program je uključivao i posjete primjerima dobre prakse u Dubrovniku, uključujući Prirodoslovni muzej Dubrovnik i Akvarij Dubrovnik, dok je drugi dan konferencije održan na Sveučilištu u Dubrovniku. Nakon konferencije za medije, sudionici su posjetili laboratorije Sveučilišta u Dubrovniku i imali priliku upoznati se s ECO simulatorom.

Završna konferencija označila je kraj projekta BLUESLINKS, ali istovremeno i početak novog poglavlja suradnje. Kroz projekt su povezani mladi, obrazovne institucije, poduzeća, istraživači i projektni partneri s obje strane Jadrana, stvarajući prostor za razmjenu znanja, razvoj novih ideja i jačanje prekograničnih veza.

Iako projekt završava, znanje, iskustva i partnerstva ostvarena kroz BLUESLINKS ostaju vrijedna osnova za nove prilike, inovacije i održivi razvoj plavog gospodarstva na Jadranu.