Artificial Intelligence and the Blue Economy: Connecting Ideas and Territories through Interreg
16/02/2026
On 12 February 2026, the “Artificial Intelligence, Blue Economy and Interreg Synergies – Connecting Ideas and Territories through AI” conference took place at the Tecnopolo Manifattura in Bologna. Co-organised by the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme, seven Priority 1 Standard Projects – Brigantine, Eccentric, 3EFishing, DIH InnovaMare, Marinet, Beyond, and Best 4.0 – and the Emilia-Romagna Region, the event brought together over 220 participants, including representatives from institutions, research, territorial authorities, and European stakeholders.
The conference explored the potential of artificial intelligence as a driver for sustainable development in the Blue Economy. Contributions emphasised the strategic role of AI in supporting a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive Adriatic region. They also highlighted the importance of research and knowledge dissemination in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and its economic and territorial impacts.
The morning sessions focused on the Blue Economy and coastal resilience, the territorial challenges that can be addressed through high-performance computing, and the ways AI can support operators in marine, fisheries, energy, and environmental monitoring sectors. Two roundtable sessions with experts from the seven co-organising projects highlighted the role of Interreg initiatives as innovation laboratories, providing replicable methodologies and tools to address environmental, economic, and social challenges linked to marine ecosystems. Finally, experiences with AI were showcased through several European programmes, including Interreg Italy–Croatia (Klens), Interreg IPA Adrion (GOTOTWIN), Interreg Europe (SHARPEI), and Horizon Europe (CEDAR).
In the afternoon, four parallel workshops explored smart marine technologies, scaling AI for mariculture, AI for smarter investments, and the role of AI in value creation within the Blue Economy. Discussions highlighted the importance of engaging Blue Economy workers to understand how AI can support aquaculture management, and the need to involve SMEs to ensure that AI tools are adapted to real-world needs. Advances in smart marine technologies were identified as essential for improving remote sensing and data quality, with more sophisticated modelling enabling tangible impacts on water management. High-performance computing was recognised as a valuable support for projects and SMEs, with specific opportunities emerging even in sectors such as shipping.
The conference concluded with a strong signal of shared commitment towards a future in which technology, sustainability, and cross-border cooperation are integrated to promote the sustainable development of the Blue Economy in the Adriatic region.
