On October 16, 2025, the international workshop “Green and Smart Ports: Shaping the Future of Green Transition and Skills Development in the Adriatic–Ionian Region” was held in Trieste, marking an important milestone in advancing the dialogue on the green and digital transformation of ports across the EUSAIR macro-region.
Organised by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, in cooperation with the EUSAIR Pillar II Coordinators for Transport and Energy, Pierluigi Coppola and Sergio Garribba, the event gathered high-level representatives from institutions, academia and industry — including Assoporti, Nomisma Energia, SRM – Centro Studi e Ricerche, ESPO, Circle Group, and the Politecnico di Milano.
Through several sessions, speakers shared data, best practices and strategies to make ports more sustainable, digital and resilient.
The discussion highlighted that maritime transport remains a cornerstone of the Adriatic–Ionian economy and that ports must take the lead in combining energy security, decarbonisation, and technological innovation. Speakers emphasised the need to invest not only in infrastructure (such as shore power, grid reinforcement and new fuel facilities) but also in human capital, which is essential to manage the complexity of tomorrow’s port systems.
A strong focus was placed on skills development, as the success of the green and digital transition depends on a workforce equipped with new technical, digital, and managerial competencies. The emerging demand for technical competences in digital and energy calls for structured upskilling and reskilling programmes, supported by cooperation between universities, training institutions, and port authorities.
The workshop concluded with a shared vision of ports as multimodal energy and innovation hubs, capable of driving both environmental and economic progress. It also reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among EUSAIR pillars to align infrastructure, policy, and education in shaping a greener, smarter, and more competitive maritime future for the Adriatic–Ionian region.
