InnovaMare

 

 

Name: Blue technology - Developing innovative technologies for sustainability of Adriatic Sea
Acronym: InnovaMare
Funding: Interreg Italy-Croatia
Total budget: 5,600,000 EUR

Start and end date: 01/07/2020 - 30/06/2023 

Coordinator: Croatian Chamber of Economy – Sector for Industrial Development and Innovation System
Partners: Regional Union of the Chambers of Commerce of Veneto Region (Italy), University of Trieste (Italy), ARTI - Regional Agency for Technology and Innovation (Italy), National Research Council - Institute of Marine Sciences (Italy) – CRN ISMAR, Mare Fvg - Maritime Technology Cluster FVG (Italy), Communication Technology Srl (Italy), National Institute Of Oceanography And Experimental Geophysics (Italy), Ruđer Bošković Institute (Croatia), University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (LABUST), University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), University of Rijeka (Croatia), Geomar  (Croatia), Šibenik Knin County (Croatia)
Web page: https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/innovamare


Introduction

The seas and oceans are our greatest source of biodiversity. They cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and contain 90% of the biosphere. European marine waters cover 3 million square kilometers – equaling the total landmass of Europe; indeed, 50% of Europe’s territory is under the sea. The Adriatic Sea is facing major impacts from overfishing and pollution, which is the result of discarded plastic objects and oil pollution, which can lead to significant poisoning and death of fish as well as the disappearance of the plant world on which human health also depends.

• 49 % of the known forms of life in the Mediterranean are present in the Adriatic Sea;

• 64 known fish species are threatened with extinction, largely because of overfishing;

• amount of marine litter is 2-5 times greater from those in other seas;

• by 2050 sea-level rise of 12% is expected. 

Solid waste and direct discharge of wastewater are key negative factors for the degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Why InnovaMare project?

InnovaMare project will jointly develop and establish an innovation ecosystem model in the area of underwater robotics and sensors for purposes of monitoring and surveillance sector with a mission-oriented on the sustainability of the Adriatic Sea.

The main purpose of InnovaMare the project is to bring cross-border collaboration between science and private sector on a higher level and to facilitate the involvement of SMEs in international networks for research as a way of adding value to SMEs in area of internationalization and technology transfer having in mind all inputs from all stakeholders involved within the project.

What is the main challenge for project implementation?

InnovaMare strategic project will tackle one of the main change - increasing the effectiveness of the innovation activities in the relevant fields of the blue economy - by enhancing the transfer of knowledge within the cooperation area between the enterprises, R&D centers, higher education and the public sector through education and capacity building programs for different stakeholders.

How will the project partners tackle the challenge?

Through very good communication and coordination of all partners during all the 104 project activities, including interviews, training sessions, conferences, roadshows, round tables, workshops, study trips, pilot actions.

As a result of these activities, this project will have several main outputs, here are a few:

  • established DIH (Digital Innovation Hub) for innovative underwater robotics and sensors and living lab in the Adriatic Sea;
  • developed strategy and Action plan for the enhancement of framework conditions for raising collaboration and networking in the field of robotics and sensors for further steps in public policies based on the quadruple helix approach;
  • policy recommendations.

To whom the project addresses?

The project addresses all the stakeholders involved in the theme of sustainability of the Adriatic Sea:

  • General public (researchers, entrepreneurs, students, citizens)
  • Local, regional and national public authorities
  • Regional and local development agencies, chambers of commerce and other BSI
  • SMEs
  • Universities, technology transfer institutions, research institutions
  • Centers of Research excellence
  • NGOs, associations, innovation agencies, business incubators, cluster management bodies, and networks

Legacy of the project

The main legacy after the implementation of a project InnovaMare will be MAiROS - the main platform for the development of solutions for monitoring and prediction of pollution of the Adriatic Sea.

MAiROS will be ready to connect to the Pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and in this way bring opportunities for connection on the European level for all involved stakeholders from the cross-border level. It will be the central place for networking and exchange of experiences and knowledge from all relevant stakeholders.

Interreg Italy-Croatia CBC Programme

The project is part of the Interreg Italy – Croatia CBC Programme, the European Union financial instrument supporting the cooperation among the two European Members States territories overlooking the Adriatic sea. With 236,8 M € of total budget, the Programme enables regional and local stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences, to develop and implement pilot action products and services, to support investments by creation of new business models, to test the feasibility of new policies, having as the final aim the improvement of the life quality and conditions of more than 12,4 M citizens living in the Area.

The project InnovaMare as a part of Interreg Italy-Croatia is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

More info on the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme: https://www.italy-croatia.eu/