On 11 February 2026, the SKILLS Executive Committee met online to define the next strategic phase of the project. The meeting marked a turning point for the South Adriatic initiative, confirming the structure of a cross-border one-year Master programme, accelerating the Blue Economy Digital Platform rollout, and initiating a major project modification and extension request.

The decisions position SKILLS as a flagship educational and governance initiative in the Adriatic blue economy ecosystem.

 A New Cross-Border Master Programme in Blue Economy

The Executive Committee unanimously approved the transformation of the Innovative Learning Module (ILM) into a 12-month First-Level Master programme (60 ECTS).

Key Features of the Programme

  • 45 ECTS teaching modules

  • 5 ECTS internship (125 hours in students’ home countries)

  • 10 ECTS thesis

  • Hybrid delivery model (online + 3–4 in-person weeks)

  • 20 students (5 per programme area)

  • Planned start: Autumn 2026 / Early 2027

  • Expected completion: Summer 2028

The programme will be officially announced in April 2026, with the public call for students scheduled for May 2026.

This decision aligns education systems with labour market needs and strengthens regional academic harmonisation under the Interreg IPA South Adriatic framework.

 Blue Economy Training Centre Fully Operational

The Blue Economy Training Centre (BETC) at the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor is now fully operational.

What BETC Offers

  • 200 m² multifunctional training space

  • Hands-on aquaculture and marine sector capacity building

  • Hosting of cross-border learning modules

  • Support for ILM and HELM implementation

The centre serves as the physical anchor of the SKILLS ecosystem, connecting education, industry, and research.

 Digital Platform Moving to Full Deployment

The Blue Economy Digital Platform has entered its operational phase.

Platform Structure

📄 Documents module

🎓 eLearning module

🛒 eCommerce module

Testing is expected to be completed by end of February 2026.

The platform will host:

  • The Master programme

  • Summer school courses

  • Knowledge exchange tools

  • Marketplace opportunities for blue economy actors

 Major Project Modification and Extension Proposal

Given the expanded scope of the Master programme and alignment with regional needs, partners agreed to request:

Proposed Changes

  • Project extension of 12–14 months

  • Potential new end date: December 2028

  • Budget shifts to avoid de-commitment risks

  • Strategic financial reallocation among partners

 Upcoming Flagship Events in 2026

The ExeCom confirmed major milestones:

📍 28 April 2026 – SKILLS ExeCom (Kotor)

📍 29 April 2026 – Cross-Border Permanent Table (Kotor)

📍 22–25 September 2026 – AdriBioPro2026 Conference (Kotor)

During AdriBioPro2026:

  • High-Level Panel on Blue Economy Skills

  • Official Launch of the Master Programme

  • Launch of the HELM (Higher Education Learning Module)

These events will position SKILLS at the centre of regional blue economy dialogue.

 Strengthening the South Adriatic Blue Economy

The SKILLS project (2023–2027), with a total budget of nearly €4.8 million and strong EU support, continues to enhance:

  • Cross-border education harmonisation

  • Market-responsive blue skills

  • Academia–industry collaboration

  • Digitalisation of knowledge exchange

  • Youth employability in marine sectors

The February Executive Committee meeting confirmed that SKILLS is entering its most ambitious and transformative phase yet.