Cross-border Regions Collaborate for BLUE GROWTH (BLUE GROWTH COLLABs)

The objectives of the project are to improve the institutional and scientific capacity for sustainable management and use of natural resources in the cross-border region, to create supportive conditions for acquiring knowledge and achievements in the field of environmental research and to establish mechanisms for interaction, coordination and cooperation for sustainable management of natural resources between key stakeholders in the cross-border region.
The main project activities include: equipping and building infrastructure for research centers for Blue Growth at the University "Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov" - Burgas and Thracian University - Edirne, development and implementation of common methodologies and pilot studies of aquatic ecosystems in the regions of Burgas and Edirne, local activities for regional capacity building, including holding international conferences, stakeholder meetings, public events, activities to improve the interaction between the different levels of regional educational ecosystems in support of education and training for Blue Growth.
As a result of the project implementation, Blue Growth Research Centers will be established in the cross-border region and conditions will be created for interaction between scientists, researchers, local institutions and communities to develop common methodologies and models for responsible use of natural resources. The project will build on the existing capacity to study and monitor the ecological status of local ecosystems by providing infrastructure and equipment for scientists and experts on both sides of the border and will contribute to compensating for the lack of data and information on the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems in the target region. . Initiatives related to environmental protection and environmentally responsible behavior of local communities will be developed and implemented.