LEAP TO BLUE Presented at the Blue Economy Zadar Conference
09/11/2026
On October 29th 2026, the Blue Economy Zadar conference, organised by Zadarski list, brought together representatives of academia, industry, and local and regional institutions at the Hyatt Regency Zadar to discuss opportunities and challenges for the sustainable development of Croatia’s blue economy.
The conference, held in partnership with the University of Zadar, was part of the national Blue Economy Croatia platform, connecting four regional events in Rijeka, Pula, Zadar and Osijek. The Zadar edition focused on islands, maritime innovation and sustainable connectivity, addressing topics such as digital transformation, marine technologies and the future of island communities.
Prof. Tomislav Šarić, Head of the Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture at the University of Zadar and a member of the LEAP TO BLUE project team, participated in the panel discussion, highlighting the importance of strengthening cooperation between research institutions and businesses, particularly in sectors related to the sea.
During the discussion, Prof. Šarić emphasised the need to connect academic knowledge with practical applications and real business needs. He also highlighted opportunities for digital innovation in the blue economy and the importance of considering climate change in future development initiatives.
The LEAP TO BLUE project offers a concrete opportunity to strengthen this connection between research and industry. Co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Italy-Croatia 2021–2027 Programme, the project has a total budget of EUR 6,107,240 and is led by the University of Zadar.
Through its voucher scheme, LEAP TO BLUE aims to support more than 150 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the blue economy. Rather than providing direct financial grants, the project will offer access to specialised services worth up to 18,000 EUR per SME, or 36,000 EUR per Croatian-Italian partnership, with no co-financing required.
These services will cover three key areas: innovation and technology, skills and human capital development, and internationalisation.
The voucher call is expected to be launched towards the end of 2026, opening new opportunities for Croatian and Italian SMEs to access expertise, strengthen their innovation capacities and improve their competitiveness.
By connecting scientific expertise with the needs of businesses, LEAP TO BLUE contributes to a more innovative, competitive and sustainable blue economy across the Adriatic region.
