Italia-Croatia

On 1 December 2026, LEAP TO BLUE partner Unioncamere del Veneto is organising a cross-border workshop in Padua, bringing together Italian and Croatian companies and experts from the Blue Economy sector. The event will combine an information session with targeted B2B meetings, offering participants the opportunity to identify potential partners and prepare joint applications under the project's Voucher Scheme.

Through LEAP TO BLUE, SMEs can access professional service packages worth up to €18,000 per company, covering three strategic areas:

• Innovation and Technology Transfer: services such as cybersecurity risk assessments and feasibility studies for the implementation of digital twins.
• Skills and Human Capital Development: training and workshops on topics such as Artificial Intelligence in business operations and ESG reporting.
• Internationalisation: support for foreign market entry strategies and participation in international initiatives, including the Venice Boat Show 2027.

Access to the scheme requires SMEs to form a cross-border partnership between an Italian and a Croatian company and submit a joint application. The support is provided through services from the project catalogue, without requiring SMEs to manage reimbursement procedures or complex reporting obligations.

The initiative is open to SMEs operating in traditional Blue Economy sectors - including coastal tourism, shipbuilding, aquaculture and maritime transport - as well as emerging sectors such as blue biotechnology, robotics and marine renewable energy, and enabling sectors such as digital services and infrastructure. Applicants must have at least one operational headquarters in the Italy-Croatia Programme area.

The Padua workshop is designed to turn networking into concrete cooperation opportunities. Participants will have the chance to:

• Take part in targeted one-to-one B2B meetings with Italian and Croatian companies and experts to identify potential cross-border partners.
• Learn about the Voucher Scheme, its eligibility requirements and the application procedure through the MAIROS platform.
• Explore emerging trends and business opportunities in the Blue Economy.
• Start preparing their applications directly during the event (for in-person participants).

The working language will be English. In-person attendance is recommended to make the most of the networking opportunities, while remote participation will also be available for both the information session and the B2B meetings.

Event details

Date: 1 December 2026
Time: 09:30–14:30 CET
Venue: Best Western Plus Net Tower Hotel Padova, Via S. Marco 11, 35129 Padua, Italy.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is compulsory.

Register by 25 November 2026, at 18:00 CET filling in the registration form available at this [link]

Following registration, participants will receive the schedule of their B2B meetings.

For further information:

• Italian contact: blueconomy@ven.camcom.it
• Croatian contact: ltb@unizd.hr