On 27 November the CEI-Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES) actively participated in the virtual final conference of the BLUE_BOOST project, entitled Boosting the innovation potential of Blue Economy. Since January 2018, the CEI-ES has contributed to BLUE_BOOST, funded by the Interreg ADRION programme, by playing a double role: as the leader of communication activities, it has supported the creation of “blue” communities in the BLUE_BOOST target areas, all of which are encompassed in the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-Region (EUSAIR). As partner responsible for the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG), it has implemented several actions aiming to encourage innovation of micro and small companies as a key factor for blue growth in the Adriatic-Ionian area.
This has been promoted, inter alia, through the implementation of a transnational scheme for innovation vouchers, which has provided 35 micro and small companies (out of which 4 from the Region FVG) with a 10.000 EUR grant to innovate their products, processes and services.
BLUE_BOOST achievements are perfectly aligned with the priorities of the CEI Plan of Action 2018-2020, aimed at “improving research and innovation systems” and at “supporting transition to Circular and Bioeconomy and promoting Blue Growth” - and will certainly feed the next programming period 2021-2023, which will also place blue growth/blue economy high on the CEI agenda.
For more info: lombardo@cei.int