IDA and Tecnopolis STP Organised a Cross-Border IN2BIZ Workshop within the IN4BLUE Project
29/01/2026
On Monday, 26 January 2026, the Istrian Development Agency (IDA) and Tecnopolis Science and Technology Park (Italy) organised a cross-border IN2BIZ workshop entitled “Digital and Green Procurement for the Private and Public Sector” within the framework of the IN4BLUE Project, implemented under the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 programme.
The workshop was held in a hybrid format, onsite at the Coworking Centre and online, and gathered more than 30 participants from Croatia and Italy, including representatives of companies, public institutions, development agencies and other stakeholders active in the blue economy.
The first part of the event consisted of a professional IN2BIZ workshop dedicated to green and digital public procurement and the application of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria in the blue economy. National sessions were organised in Croatian and Italian, providing participants with an overview of key topics such as green public procurement, ESG reporting, sustainable criteria in procurement procedures and the relevant European Union legislative and policy frameworks.
The Italian session was delivered by Prof. Fabrizio Flavio Baldassarre, Associate Professor of Business Management at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, who provided insights into sustainable procurement practices and ESG integration.
In Croatia, a dedicated segment focused on EU funds and financing opportunities supporting the green and digital transition, including the presentation of current calls and evaluation criteria related to environmental sustainability and digitalisation.
The second part of the workshop featured a joint transnational session, aimed at fostering cross-border exchange of good practices in the blue economy. This segment highlighted practical examples of integrating sustainability and ESG criteria into business operations, supply chains and natural resource management, with a strong emphasis on cooperation between public, private and civil sectors.
Among the best practices presented were the sustainable initiatives of WWF Adria, introduced by Fabijan Hrvatin Peronja, focusing on marine biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries management and responsible procurement practices. Special attention was given to defining green procurement criteria such as seasonality, product certification, exclusion of endangered species and cooperation with small-scale fishers.
An Italian best practice case study was presented by Acquedotto Pugliese, one of the largest integrated water service companies in Italy. The presentation illustrated how sustainability criteria have been strategically integrated into procurement processes through the Vendor Rating and Tender Rotation model, with 25% of the supplier evaluation score based on ESG criteria.
Presentation materials used during the workshop will soon be publicly available on the websites of IDA and Tecnopolis, ensuring long-term impact and wider access to knowledge for the local and cross-border community.