i3-4-BLUE-GROWTH
Green innovation for blue growth
I3-4-BLUE-GROWTH is a project aimed at promoting interregional cooperation for innovation and investment projects in high-priority and high value-added markets within the blue economy sector.
Project Description
Bringing together leading European actors of the Q-helix initiative (two national public bodies and one regional government), technology centers, and industrial clusters experienced in the blue economy sector, the project activities will focus on finding solutions to the needs of six (6) less developed regions from four (4) countries (Portugal, Spain, Croatia, and Poland) in key areas of smart specialization for these regions. The project will build upon the experiences of two more developed regions (Netherlands and Italy) and two transitional regions (Finland and France), representing leading European regional ecosystems in their fields of expertise.
Project Goal
The primary goal of this project is to improve the capacities of less developed coastal and island European regions to build and strengthen innovative and resilient ecosystems for the development of a sustainable and smart blue economy. The project will focus on two specific blue economy value chains aiming to deepen the understanding of related interregional value chains, knowledge transfer, and best practices, as well as identifying a range of innovative investments to promote sustainable growth of blue economy value chains.
The project will equip regional stakeholders and SMEs with technical, business, and professional readiness for investments, networking, business connections, and facilitation towards joint interregional investment projects in innovation.
- Value Chain 1: Sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and valorization of blue resources
- Value Chain 2: Marine renewable energy and marine decarbonization
HAMAG-BICRO’s primary focus is identifying investment projects within the blue economy sector, particularly in sustainable aquaculture, fisheries, and blue biotechnology, with potential integration into interregional value chains. HAMAG-BICRO will contribute to the I3 priority analysis, mapping and business process analysis of companies with best practices, as well as support the identification and scouting of potential projects mature enough for further development. Furthermore, to facilitate the integration process, HAMAG-BICRO will promote the I3 advisory network and facilitate networking, connection, and encourage initiatives for knowledge exchange focused on interregional best practices and policies.
The significance of Croatia’s participation in this project stems from the fact that the Croatian coast and sea are vital national assets, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy and positioning Croatia as an attractive tourist destination (with tourism accounting for 20% of Croatian GDP). However, as a semi-enclosed sea, the Adriatic is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of economic activities, including the rapidly growing ecological footprint of the tourism industry. These impacts include pollution, inadequate waste management, marine litter and plastics, overfishing, and construction, further exacerbated by the effects of climate change.
Project Partners
- ANI - AGENCIA NACIONAL DE INOVACAO, SA (ANI), Portugal
- OY MERINOVA AB (MERINOVA), Finland
- CROATIAN AGENCY FOR SMEs, INNOVATION AND INVESTMENTS (HAMAG-BICRO), Croatia
- FUNDACION CENTRO TECNOLOGICO ACUICULTURA DE ANDALUCIA (CTAQUA), Spain
- CLUST-ER AGROALIMENTARE (C-ER), Italy
- POLE MER BRETAGNE ATLANTIQUE (PMBA), France
- VICE-PRESIDENCIA DO GOVERNO REGIONAL DOS ACORES (VPGRA), Portugal
- UNKNOWN INNOVATION BV (Unknown Group), Netherlands
- BALTYCKI KLASTER MORSKI I KOSMICZNY (BSSC), Poland
- BBA - ASSOCIACAO NACIONAL PARA OS BIORECURSOS MARINHOS E BIOTECNOLOGIA AZUL (BBA), Portugal
Project Value
€ 1,363,981.33
The I3-4-BLUE GROWTH project is funded by the European Union under Project Number 101133055.
Project Duration
24 months (12/2023 – 11/2025)
Official Project Website
