ECCENTRIC National Seminar: Paving the Way for a Smart and Sustainable Blue Economy
On March 11, 2025, IMAST hosted the national seminar of the ECCENTRIC project, a cross-border initiative funded by the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 programme. The online event brought together over 50 experts, researchers, SMEs, and public stakeholders to address technological and strategic challenges in three priority maritime sectors: marine energy, marine infrastructure, and maritime safety & surveillance.
The seminar highlighted the central role of Italy and Croatia in advancing a resilient Blue Economy through innovation, digitalization, and cross-border cooperation, with strong emphasis on sustainability, investment alignment, and regulatory harmonization.
Key Sector Insights: Technology, Sustainability, and Innovation
The plenary session featured contributions from leading experts across three strategic domains:
• Michela Chimienti (NEST) illustrated the potential of floating offshore wind farms and hybrid energy platforms (wind, wave, solar), as well as Digital Twins to optimize offshore operations. She highlighted offshore hydrogen production as a promising frontier, though challenged by cost and infrastructure constraints.
• Antonio de Leo (Acquedotto Pugliese) presented innovative approaches in desalination technologies and port electrification, including the integration of renewable sources and smart grid systems to support low-emission port operations. His focus on circular water management underscored the link between infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation.
• Diana De Padova (Polytechnic University of Bari) explored real-time surveillance technologies and the use of AI, marine drones, and remote sensing for environmental and security monitoring. She stressed the importance of interoperable frameworks and cross-border data sharing for improved maritime governance.
Working Groups: Key Takeaways and Strategic Recommendations
Three parallel working groups provided in-depth sectoral discussions and concrete recommendations to guide future project activities and regional strategies.
Marine Energy
The Marine Energy group focused on five critical dimensions of sector development:
- Floating Offshore Wind – New lightweight turbine blades can boost efficiency, but lower wind speeds in the Mediterranean require adaptive designs and stronger local supply chains.
- Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier – Ports could become hydrogen hubs, but storage & transport challenges must be addressed for large-scale offshore hydrogen production.
- Integration of Offshore Renewables – Hybrid wind-wave-solar platforms show promise, but wave energy viability remains uncertain. AI-driven optimization could enhance efficiency.
- Industrialization & Cost Reduction – Infrastructure investments, public-private partnerships, and AI-driven maintenance are key to reducing costs.
- Regulatory & Investment Barriers – Complex permitting and limited EU funding slow progress. Stronger cross-border cooperation is needed.
Marine Infrastructure
The Marine Infrastructure group identified five priority areas for coordinated action:
- Port Electrification & Sustainable Mobility – Port microgrids, smart charging infrastructure, and renewable energy communities are essential. Cross-border cooperation and clear regulatory frameworks are crucial to accelerate adoption.
- Digitalization and Smart Port Solutions – IoT integration, AI solutions, and standardized data-sharing platforms can optimize port efficiency, logistics, and security, addressing increasing cybersecurity challenges.
- Innovation in Commercial & Tourist Ports – Creation of an integrated digital hub for vessel maintenance and logistics coordination could significantly boost port competitiveness and economic growth.
- Skills and Workforce Development in the Blue Economy – Specialized training programs in digital port management, sustainable maritime logistics, and innovative services are necessary to address the skill gaps in the sector.
- Strategies for Resilient and Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure – Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, comprehensive monitoring of submarine assets, and harmonized sustainability strategies are crucial to mitigate climate-related risks.
Maritime Safety & Surveillance
This group emphasized that technology must be embedded in connected ecosystems of people, tools, and policies:
- Emerging Technologies in Marine Surveillance – AI-powered marine drones, biosensors for pollutant detection, and satellite-based Digital Twins are transforming surveillance from reactive to predictive. These tools offer real-time data, faster responses, and better risk forecasting.
- Public-Private Collaboration & Investment – Innovation needs support. The group emphasized the urgency to: develop financial incentives for marine tech startups, create cross-border investment frameworks, foster research–industry partnerships to accelerate innovation.
- Regulatory Innovation & Legal Alignment – Inconsistent regulations between countries slow progress. Experts called for: harmonized EU-level maritime security rules, easier permitting for AI-based systems, support for dual-use technologies that combine safety and environmental value.
Next Steps for ECCENTRIC
The final session provided a roadmap for future actions, which include:
- The development of pilot projects focusing on hybrid energy platforms and port electrification.
- Strengthening partnerships between research institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to drive investment in sustainable maritime solutions.
- Organizing follow-up workshops to refine
This seminar reaffirmed the growing momentum behind the adoption of smart, sustainable, and technologically advanced solutions in the maritime sector. Moving forward, sustained collaboration and targeted investments will be key to unlocking the full potential of marine energy, infrastructure resilience, and maritime security in the Adriatic region.
ECCENTRIC is a project funded under the Programme Interreg Italy-Croatia and falls under Specific Objective 1.1 “Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies”.