On October 3, 2024, in the historic city of Kotor, Montenegro, the official kick-off meeting of the BLUECONNECT project was held. The event took place at Hotel Vardar and brought together representatives of stakeholders from across the region, including representatives of research centers, universities, companies and public institutions committed to advancing cross-border cooperation for blue growth in the southern Adriatic.
The host of the meeting was the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, whose representatives emphasized the importance of involving a broad network of actors in order to achieve the project’s ambitious goals. The Institute of Marine Biology from Kotor, as the lead partner, presented the overall vision of BLUECONNECT, which aims to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development in the blue economy sector.
Key presentations highlighted the project roadmap, expected results and stakeholder engagement strategies. Participants were actively involved in discussions on cooperation opportunities, laying the foundations for successful partnerships. The event also included an overview of communication strategies that will ensure effective knowledge sharing and regional impact of the project.
After the public session, the project partners held an internal meeting to establish the Project Management Team. Roles and responsibilities were defined, and communication and reporting protocols were established to ensure smooth coordination among partners from Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partners also agreed on the next steps and key deadlines for the initial phase of the project.
The BLUECONNECT project, funded with €944,533.80—of which €802,853.73 comes from IPA funds—aims to establish a strong Blue Growth Cluster in the southern Adriatic. The project, which runs from August 2024 to January 2027, will advance innovation and smart investments, ensuring the region’s competitiveness in the blue economy sector.
The day concluded with networking over lunch, giving participants an informal opportunity to discuss cooperation possibilities, further strengthening the foundations for the project’s success.
BLUECONNECT: Pioneering cross-border cooperation for blue growth
Successful Kick-Off of the BLUECONNECT Project in Kotor
On October 3, 2024, the historic town of Kotor, Montenegro, hosted the official kick-off meeting for the highly anticipated BLUECONNECT project. Held at Hotel Vardar, the event brought together around 35 stakeholders from across the region, including representatives from research centers, universities, enterprises, and public institutions, all dedicated to enhancing cross-border collaboration for Blue Growth in the southern Adriatic.
The session opened with remarks from the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, emphasizing the importance of engaging a wide network of stakeholders in achieving the ambitious goals of the project. The Institute of Marine Biology (IMB), as the lead partner, presented the overall vision and objectives of BLUECONNECT, which seeks to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development in the blue economy sector.
Key presentations highlighted the project roadmap, expected outcomes, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Stakeholders were actively involved in discussions about collaboration opportunities, laying the groundwork for fruitful partnerships. The event also included an overview of communication and dissemination strategies designed to ensure effective knowledge sharing and regional impact.
Following the public session, the project partners convened an internal meeting to establish the Project Management Team (PMT). Roles and responsibilities were defined, and protocols for communication and reporting were set to ensure smooth coordination among the partners from Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partners also agreed on immediate next steps and key deadlines for the initial phase of the project.
The BLUECONNECT project, funded with €944,533.80—€802,853.73 of which comes from IPA funds—aims to establish a strong Blue Growth Cluster in the southern Adriatic. Running from August 2024 to January 2027, it will drive innovation and smart investments, ensuring the region’s competitiveness in the blue economy sector.
The day concluded with a networking lunch, providing participants with an informal opportunity to discuss collaboration possibilities, further strengthening the project’s foundations for success.
BLUECONNECT: Pioneering Cross-Border Collaboration for Blue Growth
