3EFISHING at the Interreg Italy–Croatia Conference on AI and Blue Economy
19/02/2026
The 3EFISHING project took part in the high-level conference “Artificial Intelligence, Blue Economy and Interreg Synergies - Connecting Ideas and Territories through AI”, held at Tecnopolo Manifattura in Bologna on 12 February 2026 and co-organised within the framework of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme.
The event, jointly promoted by seven Interreg Standard Projects under Priority 1 “Sustainable Development in the Blue Economy” – Brigantine, Eccentric, 3EFishing, DIH InnovaMare, Marinet, Beyond and Best 4.0 – together with the Emilia-Romagna Region, brought together 220 participants, including representatives of institutions, research organisations, European stakeholders and territorial actors.
3EFISHING among the key voices on innovation and sustainability
Within this important international arena, 3EFISHING contributed to the dialogue on how artificial intelligence and advanced technologies can support a more sustainable and competitive Blue Economy in the Adriatic area.
The conference explored the strategic use of AI for:
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Data analysis and decision support
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Marine resource management
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Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development
Experts from the seven co-organising projects engaged in two round tables, highlighting how Interreg initiatives act as innovation laboratories, delivering replicable methodologies and tools to address environmental, economic and social challenges affecting marine ecosystems.
For 3EFISHING, participation in this collective discussion reaffirmed the project’s role in advancing the technological transition of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture through hybrid and electric propulsion systems, fully aligned with the Green Deal and Blue Economy principles.
From strategy to application: workshops and concrete impact
In the afternoon, four parallel workshops placed projects at the centre of practical discussions, covering:
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Smart marine technologies
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Scaling AI for mariculture
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AI for smarter investments in the Blue Economy
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AI-driven value creation in maritime sectors
The debates underlined the importance of directly involving Blue Economy workers in innovation processes and ensuring that technological tools respond concretely to SMEs’ needs.
For 3EFISHING, this exchange represented a valuable opportunity to strengthen synergies with other EU-funded initiatives, share experiences on sustainable maritime innovation, and contribute to a shared commitment towards a future where technology, sustainability and cross-border cooperation drive the development of the Adriatic Blue Economy.
