The RECONNECT team from the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro participated in the international conference of the ROBONETCBC project, entitled “Developing innovation network for uptake of solutions in robotics and sensors to improve monitoring and prevention of pollution of freshwater and sea ecosystems”. On this occasion, project manager Sandra Perić presented the objectives, key activities, and expected results of the project Creative craft for industrial symbiosis in blue economy sectors – RECONNECT, which is being implemented by the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro within the EURO MED Programme.
Limited cooperation between the industrial and artisanal sectors reduces opportunities for innovation and waste reuse.
According to her, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the Mediterranean face significant ecological pressure due to overexploitation, pollution, and large amounts of waste, particularly plastic. Circular economy practices are fragmented – large companies follow formal frameworks, while small and medium-sized enterprises rely on spontaneous and unstructured approaches.
In this context, the RECONNECT project aims to strengthen circularity and sustainability in the Mediterranean blue economy by transforming waste from fisheries and aquaculture into high-value bio-products. The project also empowers small and medium-sized enterprises through the use of AI tools for innovation and promotes the connection of different sectors and countries through cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The Montenegrin Chamber is involved in all key phases of the project – from developing analyses and tools, through the implementation of three pilot projects in cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, to the application of innovative solutions and their evaluation. In addition, local info-days and community events will be organized to foster knowledge exchange and engagement.
The RECONNECT project is implemented by partners from nine Mediterranean institutions, conducting activities to enhance circularity and sustainability in the blue economy sectors.
More information about the project is available on the official website: https://reconnect.interreg-euro-med.eu/news/.
Find out more about the RECONNECT project and how it contributes to the ISE Mission priorities at 👉 https://reconnect.interreg-euro-med.eu/.
“Participating in the ROBONETCBC Conference was an excellent opportunity to present RECONNECT’s approach to circularity and industrial symbiosis within the broader Mediterranean sustainability agenda. The exchange of experiences confirmed that stronger cooperation between technology providers, industry actors, and institutions is key to accelerating the transition toward circular and sustainable blue economy models”
