The strategic project SEAS (Sustainable Enterprises Advancing blue Solutions) is a pilot project that provides direct grant financial support to SMEs within the Interreg Italy – Croatia 2021-2027 and improves SMEs businesses, fosters growth and generate new jobs, increases competitiveness and access to foreign markets focusing on development of innovative products/services taking into account sustainability and green transition in the border area.

The SEAS project focuses on the development of links and synergies among Blue sector entrepreneurs and between entrepreneurs and research Institutes for:

1. strengthen SMEs innovation capacities and technology transfer in order to bring new products and services to the market;
2. facilitate the involvement of young researchers with business activities.

The overall SEAS objective is to stimulate SMEs to develop business models based on the creation of added value product and services, to encourage their involvement in technology transfer activities and to strengthen their innovation capacities.

The support will be provided through grant aid schemes with obligatory cross-border collaboration.

Minimum Collaboration Requirement

• The minimum form of cooperation in a Small Project involves developing a joint technology, service, or product by connecting SEAS Final Recipients operating on different sides of the border, with the aim of establishing a new supply chain and/or jointly entering new markets.

Funding & Eligibility

• Final Recipients are selected SMEs through open calls.
• The maximum share of total EU eligible costs that can be covered by the EmBRACE project is up to 80%. The remainder must be funded by the Final Recipients themselves from other sources (e.g., bank loans, other donors).

Selection

Small Projects are selected through a one-step selection system via open call (Call for Small Project Proposals).

Additional Information

Project partners:

1. Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments – HAMAG-BICRO (HR)
2. T2I – TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND INNOVATION S.C.A R.L. (IT)

Associated organisations:

1. Istrian Development Agency- IDA Ltd. (HR)
2. INSME Association (IT)

Project duration: 36 months (July 2025 – June 2028)

Total project value / EU co-financing: EUR 3.125.000,00 / EU EUR 2.500.000,00

Available to SMEs EU co-financing: EUR 1.640.000,00

For more information on SEAS project, needed documentation, partner search visit the website https://cbchb.eu/.

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