ARTI Puglia at Green Fair: Accelerating the Adriatic Blue Economy with €3M in SME Support
20/05/2026
Puglia’s Blue Economy is experiencing significant growth, solidifying its position as a major driver of regional development and energy transition across the Adriatic area. At the recent "Green Fair – Agorà delle Energie Rinnovabili" held at Fiera del Levante in Bari, ARTI Puglia (the Strategic Regional Agency for Technology and Innovation) highlighted how maritime innovation and clean energy go hand in hand during a dedicated panel on the Blue Economy.
As a crucial hub for marine and maritime industries in the Mediterranean, Puglia represents a massive economic engine for the region. The sector generates over €4.2 billion in added value and encompasses a robust network of more than 19,000 active companies. Furthermore, it supports a workforce of over 77,000 people employed across key maritime domains, including transport, sustainable aquaculture, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology.
To help small and medium-sized enterprises capitalize on this momentum, ARTI Puglia officially presented the upcoming LEAP TO BLUE voucher scheme. With nearly €3 million in total funding, the initiative will provide tailored support services to foster cross-border cooperation between Italy and Croatia. Under this scheme, businesses operating in the Adriatic Blue Economy will soon be able to apply for funding focused on accelerating the adoption of green and digital solutions through innovation and technology transfer, expanding business networks into new European markets through internationalisation, and upskilling teams to meet the evolving demands of the energy transition.
The presentation underscored that the transition toward a sustainable maritime economy cannot happen in isolation. By connecting regional innovation ecosystems, the project aims to give local businesses the direct financial and strategic support needed to thrive, innovate, and lead the ecological transition across the Adriatic region.
