Rijeka, Croatia, played host to the highly anticipated Green Maritime Summit, a pivotal event that brought together industry experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss and shape the future of sustainable maritime practices. Organized by the Center for Technology Transfer (CTT), this summit aimed to drive innovation, collaboration, and policy development in the maritime sector.
Warming Up with Coffee and Networking (09: 30 – 10: 00)
The event kicked off with a warming up session, providing participants with an opportunity to network and engage in fruitful discussions.
Introduction to the Green Maritime Summit (10: 00 – 10: 15
Dr. sc. Tamara Aleksandrov Fabijanić, dipl.ing., Director of CTT, delivered the welcoming address and introduced the overarching goals of the summit.
The Future Is Blue-Blue Maritime Cluster (10: 15 – 10: 30
Erlend Nybøen Rødal from Åkp as discussed the concept of the “Blue Maritime Cluster” and its significance for the future of the maritime industry.
Panel 1: Hub Objective (10:30 – 11: 15
Moderated by Lovro Frković from CTT, this panel featured a discussion on the goals being talked about and goals of the maritime hub. Participants included Erlend Nybøen Rødal from Åkp AS, Dr. Tamara Alexandrov Fabianic from CTT, and Ana Čalić from Put Forward&Thoughts of the Sea.
Coffee Break (11:15 – 11:30)
Participants enjoyed a brief coffee break, providing time for informal networking and refreshes.
Network Objective (11:30 – 12:15)
This session delved into the networking goals outlined by the summit, led by the presenters pilot program:
- Igor Çutić from MCoE,
- Goran Paladin from Adriateq,
- Nikola Budimir from ViaKornel.
Capitalization Event: Funding Opportunities and Idea Exchange (12:15 – 13: 15)
Martine Nilsen from Vinco Innovation as explored funding opportunities, while Per Ingeberg (Åkp as), Bojan Bajić (iir), and Lovro Frković (CTT) moderated the exchange of ideas and conceptualization of novel project ideas. The surve was conducted to collect feedback from the audience regarding the important features of the ZEVinnovation HUB.
Lunch (13: 15 – 14: 00
Participants enjoyed a well-deserved lunch break, fostering further networking opportunities and informal discussions.
Projects and “Green” Initiatives (14:00 – 14: 45)
Prof. Dr. Sc. Senka Maćešić, Vice-rector of Digitalization and Development at the University of Rijeka (UNIRI), discussed projects and green initiatives at UNIRI. This was followed by insights from Izv. Prof. Dr. Sc. Nikola Vladimir from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, and Prof. Dr. Sc. Vedran Slapničar from FSB, who shared successful case studies.
Panel 2: Policy Recommendation Objective (14: 45 – 16: 00
Solene Feron from Vinco Innovation as moderated a panel that addressed policy recommendations for sustainable maritime practices. Panelists included Barbara Salopek from Vinco Innovation AS, Per Ingeberg from Åkp as, Prof. Dr. Sc. Vedran Slapničar from FSB, Prof. Dr. Sc. Senka Maćešić from UNIRI, and Rašeljka Tomasović from MINGOR.
Conclusion of the Green Maritime Summit (16: 00 – 16: 15)
Tamara Aleksandrov Fabijanić and Lovro Frković, the moderators of the event, summarized the key takeaways and insights from the Green Maritime Summit, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in achieving sustainable maritime solutions.
The Green Maritime Summit organised in Rijeka, Croatia on December 5th, 2023, served as a meeting place for fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and shaping policies to navigate the maritime industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. With a focus on blue maritime clusters, networking, funding opportunities, and policy recommendations, this summit contributed significantly to the advancement of green initiatives in the maritime sector in Croatia, Poland and experienced Norway.
