Burgas Municipality has launched implementation of the "Blue Gates" initiative supporting digital and maritime transformation in the Black Sea region. The project aims to establish a transnational Blue Economy cluster and digital hub for virtual research and technology transfer.
Key project components include:
• Creating the BlueIN4BS cluster focusing on science-industry-policy connections
• Developing capacity-building programs featuring demonstrations of advanced technologies like AI applications and water drones for detecting marine pollution risks
• Organizing summer educational programs on blue economy topics
• Designing solutions for rapid identification of environmental hazards to marine habitats and aquaculture
The initiative involves five partners: Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (Turkey), Black Sea Universities Network BSUN (Romania), Burgas Municipality, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Trabzon (Turkey), and Odesa National Maritime University (Ukraine).
Funded through the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin program (2021-2027), this project represents an important step toward strengthening regional cooperation.
