Overview

The project main objective is the realization of a common and innovative ADRION’s Network dedicated to SMEs, Research Institutions and Business Support Organizations with aim of improving SME’s competitiveness and innovation in the Nautical sector and supporting their internationalization. In particular, the main objectives are:
- to tackle the lack of innovative collaboration among SMEs across the Adriatic-Ionian area, by using existing successful experiences in the EU area in the field of network model of organization and providing to the actors involved trainings, tutoring and the latest technologies available in the nautical sector;
- to realize concrete possibilities of cooperation in terms of process and products innovation among SMEs in the ADRION zone. 

The main key output will be the ECONautiNET Network, a cooperation network among enterprises, business support organizations and research institutes. This Web platform, managed by network’s brokers and coordinated through a joint management system, will have a specific focus on the ECO solutions in the nautical sector, developing a set of instruments and tools to foster innovation and internationalization of SMEs across the Adriatic-Ionian area. 
The target groups who will benefit from the main output are Higher Education and Research Institutes, SMEs and Business Support Organizations. 

The project main results will be:

- an effective and stable collaboration between SMEs and/or Research Institutes thanks to a common Joint Management System platform, in order to improve competitiveness and innovation in the Nautical sector;

- the realization of collaborations involving mainly innovative key actors such as the Chambers of Commerce and SMEs’ Association and Development Agencies, for the development of a transnational and Adriatic-Ionian common ECO-NautiNET platform, aimed to support creation and growth of networks in the ADRION area;

- to facilitate key innovation actors’ work in supporting internationalization among local SMEs and ensuring common methodologies and possibilities to entrepreneurs and research institutes.


The vision of the project is to valorise the important territorial assets of Nautical Sector bringing together SMEs from different territories and deliver to them access to Best Available Technologies
offered by Research Organizations increasing their competitiveness.
Business Support organisations will hold a significant role in the sustainability and expansion of the Network integrating and promoting the key figures of facilitators, tutors and brokers.