On November 29, 2024, the kick-off conference for the Interreg IPA South Adriatic small scale project GROW SMART was successfully held at the Department of Economics, Marketing, and Business Law at the University of Bari "Aldo Moro”. Lead by Confindustria Albania as the Lead Partner, GROW SMART brings together Confindustria Molise, Confindustria Bari and BAT, along with the Federation of Montenegrin Employers.

The implementation of the GROW SMART innovative model of cross-border promotional initiatives will allow Small and Medium Enterprises representatives to meet in person, through the successful implementation of crossborder workshops, B2B meetings, incoming missions and targeted trainings, expected to foster new networking opportunities and strengthen the competitive position of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the Green, Blue and Circular economy in the Programme Area.

Professor Fabrizio Baldassarre extended a warm welcome to participants on behalf of the University of Bari. Representatives from the Project Partners introduced their respective organizations, setting the stage for the event. Under the coordination of the Project Designer, G. Massimo Lupis d’Urso, adjunct professor at the University of Bari, a series of technical presentations by various experts followed, providing valuable insights and contributions: Daniela Guida and Massimo Zuccaro of CIHEAM, the Paris-based supra-national organization dedicated to fostering transnational cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean Sea; Massimo Labruna of the Confindustria Technical Group on Blue Economy; Enzo Tucci, adjunct professor at the Polytechnic University of Bari.

At the conclusion of his final technical presentation, Professor Baldassarre highlighted the topics covered by the experts, subsequently inviting the Partners to present "The GROW SMART Pledge”: a formal document stating the commitment of all partners to encourage and enhance cooperation among SMEs active in their territories and to design and implement sound and viable development plans around the opportunities offered to SMEs by the Circular Economy, the Green Economy and the Blue Economy, paving the way  for the sustainable integrated development of the Lower Adriatic territories.

Discover more about GROW SMART project here.