Blue Growth Digital Collaboration Platform
Digital tools can make cross-border cooperation easier, but their value depends on the people and organisations that use them. This was the focus of the BLUECONNECT workshop on the Blue Growth Digital Collaboration Platform: presenting its proposed functions, gathering stakeholder feedback and identifying the steps needed to support its adoption and long-term use.
As BLUECONNECT’s Blue Growth Collaboration Platform Expert, I contribute expert support to the platform’s development and sustainability, with a focus on knowledge exchange, stakeholder cooperation and connections between businesses, research institutions and public authorities.
Connecting knowledge, cooperation and markets
Developed under BLUECONNECT Activity A.1.4 by B-One Solutions, under the coordination of the Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, the platform brings together two complementary digital spaces:
adriaticbgc.org — a portal supporting information exchange, access to resources and collaboration within the Adriatic Blue Growth Cluster.
adriaticfresh.shop — a virtual marketplace designed to connect fishers and aquaculture producers with buyers.
Together, these tools are intended to strengthen cooperation across Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, linking shared knowledge with practical business opportunities.
Shaping the platform through stakeholder feedback
During the workshop, participants explored the platform’s structure and tested how its functions could support their work. Demonstrations covered user registration, product listings, event publication and access to educational resources.
The discussions generated feedback on navigation, content organisation and ways to encourage wider participation. This exchange provided a practical basis for refining the platform around the needs of its intended users.
The afternoon session, led by Miško Rađenović of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, examined the cluster framework supporting cooperation beyond the digital tools. Participants identified opportunities for joint action in sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, blue tourism, marine biotechnology, environmental monitoring, digitalisation and skills development.
My contribution to the workshop conclusions
Together with Dr Mirko Đurović, I co-led the closing session, bringing together the main findings and outlining priorities for the next phase.
These included incorporating stakeholder feedback into the platform, preparing user guidance, advancing the cluster’s cooperation arrangements, and organising training and pilot demonstrations for fishers, small businesses and academic partners.
The workshop reinforced a central consideration in my work on BLUECONNECT: sustaining a collaboration platform requires clear governance, useful content and continued engagement alongside technical development. Connecting these elements is essential to making the platform a lasting resource for innovation and cooperation in the Adriatic blue economy.
