Header - Acronym and Title

icon priority
1 - Sustainable growth in the blue economy
SO 1.2 - Skills for smart specialization

BLUESLINKS

BLUE ECONOMY NEW SKILLS

Information - Card

Information

Start date
01/04/2024
End date
30/09/2026
Total budget
1.702.334,72
Partnership
IT - 5
HR - 3
Project typology:
Standard project

Project specific objectives - Card

Project specific objectives

  • To create a cross-border network favoring the adoption of the key principles of S3 specialization strategies in the Blue Economy traditional sectors and seajobs
  • To provide innovative and smart services to SMEs of traditional Blue Economy Sectors and seajobs to foster transformative paths 
  • To activate three continuous match-making mechanisms aimed at enhancing the employment capacity in BE traditional sectors and seajobs at cross-border level.

Project main outputs - Card

Project main outputs

The project activates BLUES S3 Innovation Hub Network, supporting 80 SMEs with a catalogue of innovative and IT business solutions/services; 3 match-making mechanisms, encompassing an online platform for SMEs and job seekers in Blue Economy Domains, 3 hackathons open to the participation of 154 people and 3 cross-border open job fairs. Hackathon competitions are linking the labor supply and demand in traditional sectors of the Blue Economy representing a platform for technical and scientific comparisons between SMEs and skilled workforce.

About section

About

The traditional sectors of the Blue Economy (fishing, aquaculture, and nautical services) have long been the foundation of the EU Blue Economy. However, these sectors are currently facing significant challenges due to a lack of innovative pathways aimed at enhancing the capabilities of SMEs and the workforce within Blue Economy domains. This issue is especially pronounced in certain maritime areas and SMEs that are far from innovation centres, where this deficiency hampers the development of new sustainable and smart business solutions and keeps unemployment rates high.

The BLUESLINKS project seeks to address this situation by promoting innovation and S3 smart specialisation for SMEs in the traditional sectors of the Blue Economy and maritime jobs, thereby increasing their ability to attract a skilled workforce. By fostering essential cross-border cooperation among development agencies, innovation centres, universities, and business support organisations, the project aims to exchange and provide various innovative and IT solutions, along with matchmaking mechanisms to align the needs of SMEs and jobseekers in Blue Economy domains.

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Lead partner

The Lead partner represents and takes full financial and legal responsibility for the entire partnership.

DELTA 2000 Consortium Company with limited liability

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News & Events

  • NEWS
    25/05/2026

    Second Fisheries Info Day Encouraged Knowledge Exchange and Future Partnerships

    The second Fisheries Info Day brought together experts to exchange knowledge and discuss sustainable development and digitalisation in fisheries and fisheries tourism.

  • NEWS
    12/05/2026

    II INFO DAY – FISHERIES TOURISM SECTOR (PESCATURISMO & ITTITURISMO)

    On May 15, 2026, the II INFO Day dedicated to the Fisheries Tourism Sector (Pescaturismo & Ittiturismo) will take place in Lecce, Italy

  • NEWS
    07/05/2026

    Innovations, Youth and the Blue Economy in the Spotlight of a Three-Day Event in Zadar

    Zadar hosted a series of activities focused on innovation, sustainable development, and capacity building in the blue economy, fisheries, and fishing tourism.

  • NEWS
    30/04/2026

    BLUESLINKS Fair – Zadar, Croatia (May 4–6, 2026)

    The BLUESLINKS Fair is bringing together innovators, SMEs, students, and experts to explore the intersection of fisheries, tourism, and the blue economy.

  • NEWS
    14/04/2026

    Blue Way Hackathon Comes to Zadar – 48 Hours of Innovation for the Blue Economy

    Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting initiative — The third Blue Way Hackathon will take place on May 5–6, 2026 in Zadar.

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