BLUE TECH addresses shared territorial challenges in the Greece-Italy Programme Area, where the Blue Economy (coastal tourism, maritime logistics, aquaculture, blue biotechnologies) remains underexploited. Despite strong potential, SMEs face fragmented governance, weak cross-border coordination, limited digital integration (AI, IoT, robotics), slow adoption of ESG standards, and persistent brain drain.
The overall objective is to strengthen SME competitiveness and resilience by building a cross-border innovation ecosystem between Italy and Greece. BLUE TECH aims to:
- Support at least 200 SMEs through mentoring, incubation and technology transfer services.
- Develop and test 7 joint Pilot Actions adopted by partner organizations.
- Engage and retain young professionals through co-design and innovation labs.
- Establish a formal “BLUE TECH Network” via a Memorandum of Understanding and a five-year strategic Roadmap.
The project, implemented by a partnership of 9 organizations, applies a quadruple helix approach. Key actions include stakeholder mapping, talent scouting and participatory labs to define hub services; and 7 Pilot Actions establishing physical or digital hubs, such as:
- A Digital Twin for offshore wind and hydrogen logistics in Brindisi (IT).
- A Digital Twin for sustainable coastal tourism and biodiversity monitoring in Basilicata (IT).
- A Virtual Technology Transfer Hub for AI uptake in Calabria (IT).
- An AI and ESG Decision Support System in Greece.
- A Startup Incubator in Patras (GR).
- Blue and Digital Hubs in Preveza and Ioannina (GR).
- An Interregional Blue Economy Observatory in Corfu (GR).
Cross-Border Innovation Labs, study visits and the drafting of the Blue Tech Roadmap will ensure long-term sustainability and policy integration.
BLUE TECH will position the Greece–Italy area as a reference point for sustainable growth, digital transformation and maritime competitiveness.
