BLUE PORTS joins the regional dialogue on green skills for port transformation: high-level CEI workshop, Trieste, 16 October 2025

On 16 October 2025, the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab (ReSEL@TUC) proudly represented, upon invitation, the BLUE PORTS project at the high-level workshop “Green and Smart Ports: Shaping the Future of Green Transition and Skills Development in the Adriatic-Ionian Region”, held in Trieste, Italy. The workshop was organised by the Central European Initiative (CEI), in partnership with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, under the coordination of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) Pillar II – Transport and Energy. High-level panellists included also representatives from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the Italian Ports Association (Assoporti), the Maritime Authority of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and other EUSAIR Pillars (Pillar I- Blue Growth, Pillar V – Improved Social Cohesion).

The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss the advancement of green and smart port transformation and the essential role of skills development in driving the maritime sector’s sustainability and digitalisation efforts. The discussions were incredibly fruitful, highlighting the urgent need for transnational cooperation to bridge the green skills gap in the Adriatic-Ionian maritime and port sector, and emphasizing the cooperative actions between ports and education/training institutions.

BLUE PORTS actively contributed to the dialogue by sharing its experience in upskilling and certifying port professionals to lead the green transition, and in following a bottom-up co-creation approach for the development of a European-wide acknowledged certification scheme under ISO 17024. Barriers and success factors identified through the project’s work were emphasized. Based on the successful collaboration with the port ecosystem value chain, BLUE PORTS offered additional input and suggestions to strengthen cooperation between the port sector, training providers, and regional initiatives.

The participation reinforced the project’s commitment to fostering synergies, capacity-building, and a skilled, certified workforce ready to shape the sustainable future of European ports.