Italia-Croatia

17/09/2026

Digitalization, geopolitical uncertainty, and the urgent push for sustainability are rapidly reshaping the transport and logistics landscape. To help sector professionals navigate these disruptions and future-proof their operations, our project partners successfully delivered a comprehensive capacity-building program across two regional hubs this July.

Held in a hybrid format to maximize accessibility, the intensive training modules provided maritime professionals, logistics operators, and supply chain managers with actionable tools to build organizational resilience and embrace the Logistics 4.0 paradigm.

Equipping Professionals in Zadar

The training series kicked off in Croatia on July 2 and 3, 2026, organized by the Istrian Development Agency (IDA) in close cooperation with the University of Zadar (UNIZD) – Maritime Department. Hosted at the Citadela lecture hall, the sessions gathered 11 logistics professionals and shipping company representatives in person.

Under the theme "Observing and Interpreting Change," the program was led by Dr. Sc. Mate Barić and Dr. Sc. Luka Grbić. The curriculum provided deep dives into:

• Strategic Planning & Digital Logistics: Exploring strategic forecasting, Big Data analytics, AI integration, and smart infrastructure.

• Uncertainty & Sustainable Logistics: Navigating geopolitical risks, the emerging nearshoring/friendshoring paradigms, and implementing circular economy practices.

The impact of the Croatian sessions was immediate and highly positive. In post-event evaluations, 100% of participants confirmed that the modules directly addressed real-world sectoral challenges, and 100% reported walking away with a clear, actionable understanding of the materials to support their daily strategic decision-making.

Navigating the Transition in Chieti

Following the Croatian launch, the Italian training program took place on July 3 and 10, 2026. Coordinated by Agenzia di Sviluppo (Azienda speciale CCIAA di Chieti Pescara) and hosted at the DROMEDIAN Live Campus in Chieti, the two-day event brought together 12 on-site participants, alongside a broader network of professionals and project partners who joined the sessions remotely to enrich the discussions.

Titled "Navigating the Transition: Tools and Methods to Address the New Challenges of Logistics and Supply Chains," the sessions were delivered by industry experts Andrea Campagna and Marco Grifone. The modules blended methodological insights with practical operational benchmarking across four core areas:

• Strategic Scenarios: Interpreting shifting economic, technological, and geopolitical frameworks.

• Strategies under Uncertainty: Strengthening organizational ability to respond to disruptions.

• Digital Logistics: Adopting innovative approaches to modern supply chain processes.

• Sustainable Logistics and Circular Economy: Aligning business models with European Green Deal objectives.

Participant feedback underscored the high quality of the Italian modules. Overall satisfaction averaged 4.25 out of 5 across both days, while the perceived improvement in participants’ skills reached an impressive 4.5 out of 5. Furthermore, 30% of attendees expressed strong interest in pursuing specialized follow-up modules tailored to their specific business contexts.

Looking Ahead: Accessibility and Shared Knowledge

These joint training sessions provided a vital platform for cross-border knowledge exchange, enabling Adriatic logistics professionals to explore emerging trends and acquire practical methods to make their supply chains more resilient, digital, and green.

For those who were unable to attend the live sessions, full video recordings of both the Italian and Croatian trainings will be published in the library soon. While the courses were delivered in their respective national languages to maximize local impact and engagement, comprehensive English subtitles will be available for all videos to ensure accessibility across our wider international network.

A sincere thank you to all the participants, expert speakers, and organizing partners who made this cross-border initiative a resounding success!