On 29 April 2026, the SKILLS Cross-Border Permanent Table (CBPT) gathered in Kotor, Montenegro, at the Blue Economy Training Centre (BETC), bringing together project partners, stakeholders, and decision-makers to move the SKILLS project firmly into its implementation phase.

🌊 From Strategy to Action

The meeting confirmed a clear shift:
👉 from planning to real delivery of skills, training, and digital tools for the South Adriatic blue economy.

Key priorities were aligned around:

  • Activating training infrastructure

  • Launching education programmes

  • Connecting stakeholders through digital tools

  • Preparing policy dialogue at regional level

🚀 Major Highlights

🏢 Blue Economy Training Centre (BETC) – Now Operational

The newly presented BETC in Kotor is set to become a regional hub for training, innovation, and collaboration.

It will support:

  • Cross-border training programmes

  • Development of innovative learning modules (ILMs)

  • Academia–industry cooperation

  • Digital skills integration

👉 Partners confirmed their commitment to actively use BETC for upcoming activities.

 

🎓 ILM Master Programme (EQF7) – Moving Forward

A major milestone: the transition to a First-Level Master programme (60 ECTS), developed with Politecnico di Bari.

🔹 Focus: Offshore energy, blue economy, and sustainability
🔹 Format: Blended, cross-border, industry-connected
🔹 Goal: Create highly skilled professionals ready for the labour market

👉 Partners expressed readiness to support promotion and enrolment.

 

📘 HELM Kotor – Ready for Launch

The Higher Education Learning Module (HELM) in Kotor is officially introduced as a practice-oriented programme (3 ECTS).

Participants will gain hands-on experience in:

  • Cruise and marina management

  • Maritime technologies

  • Environmental sustainability

  • Smart maritime solutions

📅 Start: July 2026
🎯 Target: students and professionals in the maritime sector

👉 Pre-applications are already open — promotion now underway.

 

💻 Blue Economy Digital Platform – Officially Launched

A key milestone of the meeting was the launch of the Adriatic Blue Growth Cluster (ABGC) Digital Platform.

🌐 Explore it here: https://southadriaticskills.org/

The platform connects stakeholders across the region through:

  • 💬 eCommunication

  • 📚 eDocumentation

  • 🎓 eLearning

  • 🛒 eCommerce

👉 CBPT members committed to onboarding, content contribution, and testing.

 

🌍 AdriBioPro2026 – Get Ready

The upcoming AdriBioPro2026 Conference (22–25 September, Kotor) was presented as the flagship event for dissemination and regional cooperation.

📢 Key opportunity:

  • Participate in panels

  • Present research and results

  • Contribute to a Springer scientific volume

🏛️ High-Level Panel – Shaping Policy

The SKILLS project will host a High-Level Panel on Blue Economy Skills at AdriBioPro2026.

🎯 Focus:

  • Skills gaps and labour market needs

  • Education–industry alignment

  • Cross-border cooperation

  • Policy recommendations

👉 Initial speakers and contributors were identified.

 

✅ What’s Next?

Clear actions were agreed:

  • Activate BETC training activities

  • Launch and promote ILM and HELM programmes

  • Onboard stakeholders to the Digital Platform

  • Prepare contributions for AdriBioPro2026

  • Strengthen regional cooperation through CBPT

🤝 Join the Momentum

The SKILLS project is now entering its most dynamic phase — implementation, collaboration, and impact.

👉 Join the platform: https://southadriaticskills.org/
👉 Get involved in training, research, and innovation
👉 Be part of shaping the future of the Adriatic blue economy

 

Stay connected. Stay engaged. Build skills for the blue future. 🌊

Cover photo. From left: Dr Mirko Đurović and Prof Danilo Nikolić during the SKILLS CBPT Meeting, Kotor (29 April 2026).