SEAS Opening Conference: Over EUR 2 Million in Grant Funding Available to Croatian and Italian Entrepreneurs
08/10/2026
The Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO) hosted the SEAS – Sustainable Enterprises Advancing Blue Solutions Opening conference in Venice, Italy, bringing together entrepreneurs and key stakeholders from Croatia and Italy.
The conference brought together entrepreneurs, business support organisations, research institutions and other stakeholders from Croatia and Italy, with the aim of strengthening links between the business and research communities and fostering the development of new solutions in the field of the blue economy.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the SEAS Call for Proposals, which opens on 8 October 2026. A total of EUR 2.05 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national resources will be available to Croatian and Italian entrepreneurs for projects promoting cross-border cooperation.
A new approach to supporting innovation and cross-border cooperation
Mr Roberto Santolamazza, General Manager at t2i – technology transfer and innovation, representing the Italian project partner, highlighted the importance of SEAS as a new support instrument:
“For the first time within the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme, we can directly support projects that contribute to the implementation of innovative solutions and foster concrete cooperation between businesses on both sides of the Adriatic Sea.
SEAS introduces a new support instrument, a tool focused on achieving tangible results, connecting innovation, business development and cross-border cooperation. We strongly believe that this project represents an important step forward in the activities of the innovation agency t2i.”
Mr Tomislav Abramac, Head of Sector at HAMAG-BICRO, the lead project partner, emphasised the broader significance of the project for Croatian-Italian cooperation:
“Croatia and Italy share the Adriatic not only as a common sea, but also as a shared space of opportunity, innovation and sustainable growth.
Through SEAS, we are strengthening connections between businesses on both sides of the Adriatic and helping them turn innovative ideas in the blue economy into market-ready solutions. With more than EUR 2 million in grant funding available to Croatian and Italian SMEs, SEAS provides a unique opportunity to create sustainable business opportunities, to enter new markets and to build strong and long-lasting cross-border cooperation.
By bringing entrepreneurs and knowledge together, we are investing in the competitiveness of our regions and strengthening the Adriatic’s role as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth,”
Strategic importance for the Italy–Croatia programme area
On behalf of the Programme's Managing Authority, Mr Salvatore Lopreiato thanked the organizers and participants. He emphasized the Programme's commitment to involving SMEs, noting that the SEAS and LEAP TO BLUE projects are Operations of Strategic Importance (OSI). Finally, he stressed that the European Commission considers SEAS and LEAP TO BLUE as flagship projects, meaning their smooth implementation will be closely monitored.
SEAS Call for Proposals now opening
The Call is aimed at SMEs and start-ups registered in the eligible cross-border programme area of Croatia and Italy. Each project must include at least one Croatian and one Italian entrepreneur, with a maximum of three partners permitted.
The Call opens on 8 October 2026, with the first cut-off date for project proposals set for 9 November 2026. Depending on the number of proposals received in the first cut-off and the availability of funding, additional cut-off dates may be opened.
During the conference, Mr Marco Popolizio from the Italy–Croatia Programme Joint Secretariat presented the key features and expected results of the SEAS project within the Interreg VI-A Italy–Croatia Programme 2021–2027. Mr Marco Galanti, Head of Innovation Services Development at t2i presented the project activities, and Mr Mate Kovač, Head of Sector at HAMAG-BICRO, presented the details of the grant call for entrepreneurs.
Mr Borna Buljan, Project Manager, and Ms Jelena Grancarić-Milin, Head of the Technology Transfer Department at the University of Zadar, presented the LEAP TO BLUE project and its voucher scheme. The SEAS and LEAP TO BLUE projects are both strategic projects under Priority 1 of the Programme and complement each other in supporting SMEs in the blue economy.
The conference also featured B2B business meetings, providing Croatian and Italian entrepreneurs with an opportunity to connect and identify potential partners for future cross-border projects.
About the SEAS project
SEAS – Sustainable Enterprises Advancing Blue Solutions is a strategic project with a total value of EUR 3.75 million, including EUR 2.5 million in ERDF contribution. The project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in the Croatian-Italian cross-border area by promoting cross-border cooperation, innovation and the joint development of products and services in the blue economy.
The Call documentation is available on the SEAS online project platform. Entrepreneurs seeking further information can contact the project team at seas@hamagbicro.hr.
