{"id":5129,"date":"2025-09-25T17:51:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T15:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imast.biz\/eccentric-general-meeting-in-bari-driving-innovation-in-the-blue-economy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T17:51:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T15:51:27","slug":"eccentric-general-meeting-in-bari-driving-innovation-in-the-blue-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imast.biz\/en\/eccentric-general-meeting-in-bari-driving-innovation-in-the-blue-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"ECCENTRIC General Meeting in Bari: Driving Innovation in the Blue Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

ECCENTRIC General Meeting in Bari: Driving Innovation in the Blue Economy<\/h4>\n

Cross-border cooperation, cutting-edge materials and experimental validation: how research and industry are shaping a more resilient Adriatic.<\/p>\n

How can innovation and cross-border cooperation shape the future of the Adriatic Blue Economy? <\/em>
\nThis was the question that IMAST and the partners of the ECCENTRIC project<\/a> (funded by the Interreg Italy\u2013Croatia 2021\u20132027 Programme<\/strong>) addressed during the General Meeting held in Bari on 18\u201319 September.<\/p>\n

In line with the project\u2019s mission – to strengthen collaboration between research institutes, companies, and technology clusters in Italy and Croatia – the meeting provided a first concrete answer: the presentation of the preliminary version of a new artificial intelligence tool <\/strong>developed within ECCENTRIC.<\/p>\n

This tool will be tested with companies during the project\u2019s pilot phase to support them in designing tailored investment plans and, once validated, will remain available to SMEs as a lasting resource to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the Adriatic Blue Economy.<\/p>\n

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Meeting Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the sessions, the partners presented the project\u2019s initial outputs -from research activities and the development of thematic roadmaps to the planning of the pilot phase – aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) identify effective technological solutions to their innovation needs and build a cross-border public\u2013private network that promotes circular solutions in the emerging sectors of the Blue Economy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Study Visit at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the meeting, participants visited the Coastal Engineering Laboratory (LIC)<\/a> at the Polytechnic University of Bari<\/a>, guided by the research team led by Professor Michele Mossa<\/strong>.
\nThe LIC is the only facility in Italy dedicated to coastal dynamics. It features large experimental tanks and a modular wave generator capable of producing waves up to 30 meters wide, enabling highly accurate reproduction of real sea conditions. <\/p>\n

Beyond its role as a research center, the LIC serves as a strategic resource for businesses, offering access to expertise and infrastructure to test prototypes, validate physical models, and simulate innovative solutions for coastal protection and resilience\u2014combining scientific excellence with industrial relevance.<\/p>\n

By enabling the testing of prototypes made with advanced materials<\/strong> under controlled conditions, the LIC establishes a concrete bridge between scientific knowledge and industrial needs, supporting SMEs in reducing development risks, validating innovative solutions, and accelerating their adoption on a real-world scale.<\/p>\n

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Innovative Materials for Coastal Protection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal erosion and the increasing frequency of extreme events are driving the adoption of increasingly sustainable and high-performance solutions for shoreline protection. The search for new materials plays a strategic role, offering alternatives capable of reducing environmental impact while enhancing the durability of maritime infrastructure. <\/p>\n

Innovative materials are finding strategic applications in coastal engineering, particularly in two key areas:
\n1) Breakwaters and Coastal Barriers<\/u>
\nStructures designed to dissipate wave energy and protect shorelines now rely on advanced materials such as:<\/p>\n