LEAP TO BLUE joins SEAS Opening Conference in Venice to strengthen synergies for the Adriatic Blue Economy
20/10/2026
On 7 October 2026, LEAP TO BLUE took part in the Opening Conference of the SEAS – Sustainable Enterprises Advancing Blue Solutions project, held in Venice, Italy. The event brought together project partners, representatives of the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme and stakeholders interested in strengthening innovation and sustainable growth within the Adriatic Blue Economy.
The conference provided an important opportunity to connect two strategic projects funded under the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme 2021–2027 that share a common ambition: supporting SMEs and strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability and cross-border integration of the Blue Economy across Italy and Croatia.
Although LEAP TO BLUE and SEAS operate through different support mechanisms, their approaches are highly complementary. SEAS provides support through an open call for small project proposals, while LEAP TO BLUE implements a voucher scheme through which Italian–Croatian SME partnerships can access specialised expert services rather than direct financial support. Together, the two projects create a broader range of opportunities for Blue Economy SMEs on both sides of the Adriatic.
During the conference, University of Zadar presented LEAP TO BLUE and its upcoming Voucher Scheme. The presentation highlighted key features of the Scheme, including mandatory cross-border partnerships between one Croatian and one Italian SME, access to specialised services worth up to EUR 18,000 per SME, and support in three areas: Innovation and Technology, Skills and Human Capital, and Internationalisation.
Participation in the SEAS Opening Conference marked an important step in building stronger links between the two sister projects. By connecting stakeholder networks and promoting complementary opportunities, LEAP TO BLUE and SEAS can help ensure that Interreg support reaches Blue Economy SMEs across the Programme area and contributes to stronger cross-border cooperation, innovation and sustainable growth.
