THE BLUE WAY HACKATHON

NOVEMBER 6-7, 2025 ⚓ RIMINI - ITALY

ITA

ENG

THE BLUE WAY HACKATHON 2025 - ACQUACOLTURE AND FISHERIES EDITION

48 hours. One challenge: driving innovation, sustainability and resilience in fisheries and aquaculture!

The sea is the new frontier of research and experimentation — a connective fabric for the economy of the future and a fertile ground for launching new enterprises.

On November 6–7, 2025, the city of Rimini (ITALY) will host the second Hackathon of the BLUESLINKS project, dedicated to the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

THE BLUE WAY HACKATHON 2025 - ACQUACOLTURE AND FISHERIES EDITION

The Challenge: driving innovation, sustainability and resilience in fisheries and aquaculture!

Get ready for 48 hours of hands-on innovation: you’ll work in multidisciplinary teams to design prototype solutions addressing in the aquaculture and fisheries sectors, tackle climate change, and enhance the competitiveness of businesses in the industry.

At the heart of the challenge

1️⃣ Resilient, Diversified, and Sustainable Aquaculture

🌊 Climate change is rapidly transforming marine ecosystems.
💡Challenge: Ideas and strategies to diversify aquaculture production, introduce new farmable species with higher yields, and counter the invasion of alien species such as the blue crab. Solutions for sustainable aquaculture that reduce environmental impact and promote social responsibility.

2️⃣ Sustainable Fishing and Biodiversity Protection

🎣 Innovative solutions for managing fish stocks, with a focus on small pelagic species and other overfished stocks (e.g. eel, mackerel).
💡Challenge: Proposals for selective fishing methods, management of marine protected areas, identification of nursery zones, fishing bans and seasonal closures.

3️⃣ Circular Economy and Waste Valorization

♻️ How to transform fishery and aquaculture waste into valuable resources (e.g. feed, bioplastics, fertilizers).
🗑️ Management of marine litter and accidentally caught waste (e.g. ecological stations in ports).
💡Challenge: Enhancing the role of fishers in marine litter management, focusing on recovery chains and awareness-raising activities to prevent marine litter.

4️⃣ Education, Promotion, and Social Impact

📱 Campaigns and digital tools to raise consumer awareness.
🐟 Promotion of local fish and strengthening the connection between coastal communities and the Blue Economy.
🤝 Focus on social impact, inclusion, and transparent governance.
💡Challenge: Promoting traceability and conscious consumption of local seafood products through digital solutions.

⭐ Your idea could be the winning one!!!!

Read the

OFFICIAL RULES

Why are u waiting?

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👥 Who Can Join

The Blue Way Hackathon is open to:

• University graduates

• Young startuppers (whether already launched or in the planning phase)

Eligibility requirements:

• Italian or Croatian citizenship

• Or currently studying, residing, or working in Italy or Croatia

🎯 Why Join

• Receive a Certificate of Participation, recognized as a valuable learning experience

• Collaborate with real SMEs, who may offer internship or project opportunities after the event

• Join the international BLUESLINKS Innovation Hub (part of the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme)

👍 Get Ready!

We’re setting the stage for you to shine.

• The Hackathon will take place in person in Rimini (ITALY), but don’t worry if you can’t make it to everything — the opening session and final awards will also be streamed online, so no one misses the big moments.

• To keep things smooth and international, the official language is English. But you won’t be on your own — bilingual facilitators (Italian and Croatian) will be by your side throughout the event.

• And because great ideas need fuel, we’ve got your meals covered — so you can focus on innovating, collaborating, and building real solutions, with no distractions.

🗓️ SCHEDULE

DAY 1

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2025

read the schedule 👇

📍 Ecomondo Rimini Fair, Ocean Arena

⏰ From 10.00 to 11.15

🎤 Opening Cerimony 👉 link to the Program

Institutional greetings
Launch of the 4 Hackathon challenges "Cluster Fisheries and Aquaculture" - Speakers
Presentation of the jury and mentors by the hosts.

⏩ Afterwards, travel independently or by public transport to the Port of Rimini, Via Sinistra del Porto, near the Fish Market, Motonave Bella Rimini. [By public transport: bus no. 9 from the Fair to the Station and vice versa. Then from the station you can walk to Via Sinistra del Porto (about 10 minutes); or take bus n° 4 towards Bellaria; or bus n° 2 towards San Giuliano a Mare] > directions

📍 Rimini port area, Motonave Bella Rimini moored at Porto di Rimini (In case of bad weather, the location will be C/o Cooperativa Lavoratori del Mare Soc. Coop. a r.l. Via Fratelli Leurini n.1 47921, RIMINI)

⏰ From 12.00 to 21.00 Motonave Bella Rimini c/o Porto Canale of Rimini, Quay of Via Sinistra del Porto / Via Fratelli Leurini

✅ 11:00 - 11:30 Welcome session: Registration and reception

Confirmation of registrations and distribution of materials.
Networking among participants, tutors, and organizers.

👁️‍🗨️ 12.00 Kickoff and presentation of the Challenge

Introduction to the objectives and the challenge.
Detailed explanation of guidelines, rules, and evaluation criteria.

🍽️ 13.00 Light lunch

💭 14.00 Session 1: Sharing and brainstorming

Interactive activities to stimulate creativity and innovation with SMEs and experts.
Analysis of best practices and case studies.
Formation of teams participants and tutors based on skills, brainstorming of best ideas.

💡 15.00 Session 2: Operational work: initial development

Definition of project scope and concrete objectives.
Initial consultations with tutors to validate ideas.
Planning of subsequent development phases and state-of-the-art analysis.

✍️ 17.30 Session 3: Initial design and development of ideas

Development of ideas into detailed concepts.

🍽️ 20.00 Dinner

🌃 21.00-00.00 Session 4: Advanced development

After dinner, Possibility of continuing the work independently by the work groups during the night hours on board the Bella Rimini motor ship and also in the Conference Room of the Workers' Cooperative, located in Via Fratelli Leurini n.2 - 1st floor (in front of the fish market).

DAY 2

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2025

read the schedule 👇

📍 Rimini Port Area, Motonave Bella Rimini moored at Porto di Rimini (In case of bad weather, the location will be C/o Cooperativa Lavoratori del Mare Soc. Coop. a r.l. Via Fratelli Leurini n.1 47921, RIMINI)

⏰ 5.00 [optional]

🐟 Visit to the fish auction at the Rimini fish market (duration approximately 1 hour)

⏰ From 8.00 to 12.00

☕ 8.00 Breakfast & Checkpoint with tutors

Feedback on development phases.
Possible adjustments to optimize the project proposal.

🎬 8.30 Sessione 5: Finalization of video pitch

Structuring the pitch to effectively present the project.
Production of supporting materials (video, slides, demo).
Technical rehearsals for the presentation.

👏 10.30 Session 6: Final pitch and presentation to the jury

Official project presentations (predefined format template).
Q&A session with the committee.

🍽️ 12.00 Light lunch

🗺️ 13.30 pm Transfer independently to the Ecomondo Fair in Rimini > Agorà Blue Economy, Hall B6 (in the context of the "Blue skills and jobs" conference)

📍 Ecomondo Fair Rimini, Agorà Blue Economy, Pavillion B7 (in the frameworks of Blue skills and jobs conference 👉 link to the Program)

⏰ From 14.30 to 17.30

🎒 14.30-16.30 Participation in the Blue Skill and job and Young area event

🎤 16.30-17.15 Presentation of the papers and video-pitch Hackathon

🏆 17.15 Conclusions and announcement of the HACKATHON winners by the Evaluation Commission - Winners announced and teams awarded!

🤝 Partner

Throughout the Hackathon, you’ll never be alone: teams will be guided step by step by mentors carefully selected and trained by the partners of the Interreg BLUESLINKS project – professionals ready to support you in the process of ideation.

It’s a unique opportunity to work side by side with experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators from the Blue Economy, with whom you’ll be able to share ideas, receive strategic feedback, and turn insights into high-impact solutions.

🐟 LAG DELTA 2000 – Ostellato (FE), Italy – Lead Partner

Local development agency of the Emilia-Romagna Delta and recognized Local Action Group (LAG). With over 20 years of experience in European projects, it promotes innovation, sustainable growth, and the enhancement of coastal and rural areas.

🌐 www.deltaduemila.net

🐟 POLO TECNOLOGICO ALTO ADRIATICO “Andrea Galvani” (POLOAA) – Pordenone, Italy

A technology and innovation hub and business incubator, hosting around 100 enterprises. It specializes in digital transformation, smart manufacturing, sustainability, and maritime innovation.

🌐www.polotecnologicoaltoadriatico.it

🐟 CONFCOOPERATIVE VENETO – Padova (PD), Italy

A key representative body of the cooperative movement in the Veneto region. It supports enterprises operating in fisheries, agriculture, services, and social sectors, promoting inclusive and sustainable local development.

🌐 www.veneto.confcooperative.it

🐟 FLAG Costa dei Trabocchi – Chieti (CH), Italia

A public-private consortium dedicated to the integrated development of coastal communities in the Abruzzo region. It focuses on sustainable fisheries, diversification of local economies, and enhancement of maritime heritage.

🌐 www.flagcostadeitrabocchi.it

🐟 Università del Salento (UNISALENTO) – Lecce, Italia

A research-driven university active in innovation and sustainability, with strong expertise in marine sciences, environmental protection, and biodiversity.

🌐 www.unisalento.it

🐟 ZADRA NOVA – Agenzia di Sviluppo della Contea di Zara – Zara, Croazia

A regional development agency supporting economic growth and EU project implementation. It works closely with SMEs, local governments, and institutions to foster territorial cohesion and sustainable development.

🌐 www.zadra.hr

🐟 ARGONAUTA – Associazione per l’Ambiente e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile – Murter, Croazia

An environmental NGO based on the Dalmatian coast. It engages youth and communities through education, citizen science, and sustainable development activities in marine and coastal environments.

🌐 www.argonauta.hr

🐟 Università di Dubrovnik (UNIDU) – Dubrovnik, Croazia

A specialized higher education institution focusing on maritime studies, applied ecology, and sea technologies. It plays a key role in knowledge transfer and international cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian area.

🌐 www.unidu.hr