The Albanian Development Fund held on 24-25 May 2019 the HACKATHON Info Day for Innovations in the Blue Economy. The event implemented under the Blue Boost project is financed by IPA Adrion Program. In these two days event were discussed about challenges and issues related to the blue economy innovations that were previously identified during the development of blue labs and workshops.

Students from the European University, Agricultural University and Aleksander University discussed about the solutions of these challenges, the steps that should be taken and possible obstacles.

Participants were divided in 6 working groups and were guided to identify innovations that can affect:

– Improving the quality of services and resource management efficiency

– Improving the tourism product, marketing and quality of service

– Creating a mobile app for tourism information and new finds

– Creating a local laboratory for mussels and salt water analysis

– Monitoring production capacities of fish enterprises

– Capacity building of local workers in the fishing sector

 

Experts guided students during these two days and provided all the necessary support.

All groups presented their opinions and solutions to a jury comprised of ADF representatives, UET experts and independent experts who were engaged to this process.

The winners were the students of the Agricultural University (Master course -Aquaculture and Fishing Management).The winning group addressed the topic “Capacity building of local workers in the fishing sector”. The leader of the group will participate in the Brokerage Event and Study Visit in Thesaloniki on June 4 and 5 in the framework of the Blue Boost project.