Knowledge and Innovation Communities are part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, within the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, and they are an important driver of strengthening the innovation capacity of the EU and member states and the integration of higher education, research and innovation - the "knowledge triangle".
The Rector of the University of Rijeka, Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, said that the goal of the project was to transform the region with regard to the blue economy, the digital and green agenda, and not only Rijeka and the County, but to have a strategic national significance because it maps Croatia and Kvarner as the centre of development and problem solving in the domain of sustainable blue economy.
She underscored the importance of support for applying for the largest project that currently exists at the EU level, which is related to the field of innovation and research. The support of the Ministry of Science and Education, as well as the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, is key because this is a community of knowledge and innovation related to issues of water, sea and maritime systems, she said. She added that it was necessary to prepare a good application, which will be able to compete with strong "players" from Europe.
Butković said that it was a serious idea to form a maritime community of knowledge and innovation in Rijeka, which was logical considering the numerous infrastructure projects and the positioning of the port of Rijeka. He said that the government's support was unquestionable and that a well-prepared application was needed in order to have such an institution in Rijeka in 2026.