Innovation and Development LLC – INOVIRAJ is a project partner in ECOADRIA – ECOlogical Circular Operations in the ADRIAtic Ports, implemented within the Interreg VI-A Italy–Croatia Programme.
Small and medium-sized ports and marinas across the Adriatic face increasing environmental pressure, particularly during peak tourist seasons when recreational vessels and visitors generate significant volumes of wastewater, oily residues, plastics and other waste. Many smaller ports still lack adequate infrastructure for the sustainable collection, treatment and reuse of these waste streams. ECOADRIA addresses this common cross-border challenge by integrating circular economy principles, innovative technologies, digitalisation and cross-border cooperation.
The project aims to improve the circularity, environmental performance and digital capacity of small Adriatic ports and marinas and to develop a sustainable port waste management model that can be transferred and replicated across the Adriatic region. ECOADRIA brings together Croatian and Italian research institutions, public authorities, port operators and business and innovation organisations.
The project will implement two innovative pilot solutions. In the Port of Rovinj, a system for the treatment of vessel black water and port sediment will be developed and tested, enabling the production of reusable water and treated material. In Pescara, a smart waste monitoring system will be deployed using sensor-equipped bins and IoT technology, complemented by an on-site solution for processing and reusing collected plastic waste.
The physical pilots will be complemented by a cross-border digital platform for real-time waste monitoring, service coordination and data exchange between ports. In addition to the pilot systems and digital platform, ECOADRIA will deliver a joint cross-border strategy for circular waste management in ports, practical tools for transferring and replicating the solutions, and a transnational training and knowledge-transfer programme.
INOVIRAJ plays an important transversal role in the development and replication of ECOADRIA solutions. The company leads the work package dedicated to the development of the Joint Cross-Border Strategy, contributes to the design and evaluation of the pilot solutions and digital platform, and will carry out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). INOVIRAJ will also contribute to the ECOADRIA Toolkit, lead the development of the replication roadmap and support training and knowledge-transfer activities aimed at other ports, marinas, public authorities and SMEs.
Project at a glance
- Project title: ECOADRIA – ECOlogical Circular Operations in the ADRIAtic Ports
- Project ID: ITHR0600972
- Programme: Interreg VI-A Italy–Croatia
- Start Date: 1 October 2026.
- Duration: 30 months
- Total project budget: EUR 1.373.100,20
- INOVIRAJ project budget: EUR 240.400,20
Project partners:
Istrian University of Applied Sciences (Lead Partner), Innovation and Development LLC – INOVIRAJ, Regional Port Authority Rovinj, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Municipality of Pescara and Maritime Technology Cluster FVG – MAREFVG.
