Project title: Empowering innovation capacity of SMEs, maritime clusters and networks in MED islands and coastal areas to support blue circular economy growth in fishing/aquaculture
Acronym: BLUEfasma
Programme: INTERREG MED 2014. – 2020.
Lead Partner: University of Patras (Greece)
Partners: Regional Development Agency Dubrovnik-Neretva County – DUNEA, REGION OF CRETE, Dynamic Vision P.C, Pôle Mer Méditerranée – Toulon Var Technologie, Maritime Cluster of Balearic Islands, MEDCITIES, Taormina Etna Consortium, IMC Foundation - International Marine Centre, Larnaca-Famagu sta District Development Agency (ANETEL), CEEETA-ECO, Energy Consultants, Ltd., Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Malta Marittima Agency, STRATAGEM ENERGY LTD
Duration: 11/2019 – 06/2022
Budget: 2,811,585.00 €
DUNEA's budget: 209,575.00 €
About the project:
BLUEfasma integrates and implements Circular Economy(CE) principles in the key blue growth sector of fishing/aquaculture to benefit MED insular/coastal areas in a novel/innovative way. Project team tackles the transnational challenge of continual depletion of natural resources and the below-EU-average MED CE innovation performance in fishing/aquaculture.
Its overall objective is to empower innovation capacity of SMEs, maritime clusters/networks, PAs to boost blue CE growth in insular/coastal areas. CE prevents depletion of resources by closing energy & materials loops, leading to smart/sustainable growth as a key MED joint asset. Currently PAs/SMEs are cautious to embrace CE practices, which PAs perceive as cumbersome & SMEs as non-profitable. BLUEfasma approach will change current thinking on circularity by:
-replicating effective CE work (eg in efficient use of waste & by-products), mainly from North-EU&MED projects
-testing the upgraded circularity self-assessment tool in 11 participating MED territories and monitoring business readiness/willingness to invest in R&I
-organising BLUEfasma Living Lab
-shifting policy towards CE
-systematizing funding opportunities for blue CE innovation business investment
One of the associated partners of the BLUEfasma project is the FLAG South Adriatic, which will actively participate in the implementation of all project activities at Dubrovnik-Neretva County pilot site.
