EVENTS: Building the future of an innovative community for a sustainable Blue Economy in Crete

On 23 October 2025, the Region of Crete, together with partners of the INNOVABLUE (Interreg VI-B IPA ADRION) project, hosted the INNOVABLUE Crete Workshop in Heraklion — a high-level, hands-on event dedicated to building the INNOVABLUE innovation community and accelerating a sustainable Blue Economy across the Adriatic–Ionian region.

The workshop, titled “Building the Future of an Innovative Community for a Sustainable Blue Economy,” was organised as part of the implementation of the European project Interreg ADRION INNOVABLUE, coordinated by Aliki Karousou, Head of the Fisheries Department of the Directorate of Rural Development of the Region of Crete.

The event took place at the Historical Museum of Crete and opened with welcoming remarks by George Alexakis, Vice Governor for European & International Affairs of the Region of Crete, and Manolis Koutoulakis, Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, who both highlighted the importance of Blue Growth as a driver of innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

The keynote address was delivered by Eleni Chatzigianni, European Programmes Advisor at the European Commission (EISMEA), who presented the role of the European Innovation Council in supporting innovation within the marine and blue economy sectors.

Focusing on innovation and collaboration

The event gathered policy makers, business support organisations, researchers, local government representatives, startups and SMEs, who came together to exchange experiences, showcase best practices and discuss new opportunities for cooperation within the blue innovation ecosystem.

The programme featured thematic sessions on innovative marine technologies, applications and services, and network-building for sustainable growth. Participants explored how cross-border cooperation and transnational innovation networks can contribute to smarter, greener and more resilient coastal and marine economies in the Adriatic–Ionian area.

Expert contributions came from:

  • Dr. Pantelis Katharios, Research Director, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture, HCMR, who presented innovative approaches for developing personalized vaccines for sustainable aquaculture

  • Dr. Manolis Mandalakis, Principal Investigator at HCMR, who showcased biotechnological applications for the utilization and toxicity assessment of the silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus)

  • Prof. Dimitrios Plexousakis, Department of Computer Science, University of Crete and affiliated researcher at FORTH, who presented the Digital Innovation Hub for Smart Health and the PHAROS AI Project

  • Dr. Katerina Rousaki, Head of the Business Innovation Observatory, Directorate of Regional Economy Development & Openness, Region of Crete, who analyzed the Observatory’s activities in connection with the Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3Crete)

  • Dr. Nikolaos Kampanis and Dr. Nasos Argyriou, researchers from FORTH, who presented digital twin and remote sensing applications for mapping and forecasting marine areas, followed by a field demonstration

  • Eleni Hatziyanni, European Commission (EISMEA), who provided insight into the EU’s policy framework and ongoing initiatives to foster innovation and sustainability in the Blue Economy

These presentations demonstrated how innovation, technology transfer and knowledge exchange can drive new business models and sustainable practices within the Blue Economy — from marine biotechnology and aquaculture to data-driven management systems and green marine technologies.

Field demonstration at Heraklion Port

The workshop concluded with a live demonstration at the Heraklion Port pier, conducted by Dr. Nikolaos Kampanis and Dr. George Alexandrakis from the Coastal Marine Research Laboratory of FORTH, who showcased the Coastal Crete Digital Twin — a pioneering digital representation system of the Cretan Sea.

Using the mobile marine laboratory (moLab) of the National Research Infrastructure E-RIHS, real-time measurements and equipment demonstrations were performed, highlighting the potential of coastal monitoring technologies to support sustainable Blue Economy activities.

Building the INNOVABLUE community

Throughout the day, participants shared perspectives on how to strengthen the INNOVABLUE innovation ecosystem, emphasising the importance of connecting regional initiatives, empowering SMEs, and fostering collaboration between academia, research and industry.

Interactive discussions and networking activities helped outline common goals and potential joint actions, laying the foundation for the establishment of the INNOVABLUE Community — a transnational network of stakeholders dedicated to advancing sustainable and innovative solutions for the Blue Economy in the Adriatic–Ionian region.

Next steps

The two-day meeting concluded with a follow-up session on 24 October 2025 at the Region of Crete headquarters, where European partners discussed upcoming project activities, pilot actions, capacity-building sessions and transnational matchmaking events planned for 2026.

With its active engagement and strong partnerships, the Region of Crete continues to play a leading role in promoting innovation, sustainability and collaboration in the Blue Economy — positioning Crete as a dynamic hub for blue growth in the wider Adriatic–Ionian area.