Exchange Visit to Brindisi: Fostering Innovation through Cross-Border Collaboration
09/05/2025
From 6 to 8 May 2025, BEST4.0 project partners gathered in Brindisi, Italy, for the second exchange visit, hosted by CETMA – a leading research and technology centre in the Apulia region. The visit represented an important milestone in advancing the project’s objective of supporting the digital transformation of SMEs in the Blue Economy through cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange, and exposure to practical innovation models.
Over the course of three days, representatives from all project partners had the opportunity to engage directly with Italian innovation practices and observe how Industry 4.0 solutions are being developed and applied at the regional level. The agenda offered a balance between technical content, regional context, and collaborative interaction.
Participants visited CETMA Composites, a spin-off specialising in advanced composite materials, and Brin-Mar Engineering, a company focused on marine technology development. These site visits went beyond technological showcases—they provided concrete examples of how applied research, design, and production can support sustainable growth in the Blue Economy.
The programme also included a visit to Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve, where environmental protection and community engagement offered valuable insights into how sustainability considerations can be integrated into innovation planning.
A core part of the visit focused on working meetings and structured knowledge exchange. During partner presentations, hands-on sessions in the Demo Lab, and the Steering Committee meeting, participants discussed the next steps in project implementation, pilot activity planning, and service testing with SMEs. The visit provided a platform to align expectations and address key operational aspects.
The Brindisi exchange clearly demonstrated the value of meaningful cross-border cooperation when partners come together with a shared purpose. It also showed how practical, well-targeted support for SMEs - especially through Digital Innovation Hubs - can make a real difference in helping coastal businesses adapt, grow, and innovate in a fast-changing Blue Economy.
