Prevent Interreg IPA Adrion

Technology, cooperation and innovation at the heart of the PREVENT Roundtables on marine pollution
The two Roundtables of the European project PREVENT – Pollution Reduction and Early-warning for Vulnerable Ecosystems in Adriatic-Ionian Territories were successfully held on Friday, 15 May 2026, at the Athens Concert Hall, within the framework of the Aquaculture Congress “Blue Growth, Global Vision”. The Roundtables were organised by the Development Agency of the South Aegean Region – READ S.A., as a project partner.
The PREVENT project, implemented under the Interreg IPA ADRION 2021–2027 Programme and co-funded by the European Union, aims to reduce marine pollution and strengthen early-warning mechanisms for vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems.
The first Roundtable, entitled “Enhancing Transnational Collaboration for Marine Litter Management,” focused on the importance of transnational cooperation in marine litter management. The discussion was moderated by Mr Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou, Permanent Research Fellow at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), and featured the participation of Ms Samara Croci, Communications Manager at Healthy Seas, Ms Christina Zeri, Research Director at HCMR, Mr Nikos Katsafados, Technical Manager at WASTE ET WATER Ltd., as well as Mr Giannos Priovolos, from the Industrial Design Department of MEPP – Mediterranean Company for Environmental Protection.
Of particular importance was both the participation of MEPP and the presence of Blutopia, as both organisations are members of AIMLIN – Adriatic-Ionian Marine Litter Innovation Network, the Marine Litter Innovation Network established within the framework of the PREVENT project. AIMLIN aims to strengthen cooperation, promote the exchange of know-how and connect scientific knowledge with the practical needs of coastal areas.
The second Roundtable, entitled “Advancements in Technology for Marine Litter Management,” focused on the role of technology in marine litter management and was moderated by Stella Roubeti, lawyer and PREVENT project officer for the Development Agency of the South Aegean Region.
The second Roundtable featured the participation of Mr George Balaskas, from the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, a partner of the PREVENT project, who presented the intelligent tools for marine litter detection developed within the framework of the project; Ms Andreja Palatinus, from the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, also a project partner, who contributed with an intervention on early detection, remote monitoring and transnational cooperation; Mr George Triantafyllidis, CEO of MINDS Technologies & Environmental Sciences PC, who presented technologies for the detection, collection and prevention of marine litter, drawing on the experience of the INSPIRE and CLAIM projects; and Ms Marilou Suc, Co-founder & Chief of Ecosystem at Recycllux, who presented the use of artificial intelligence, Earth Observation and block chain in the development of scalable marine litter management systems.
During the discussion, modern tools and approaches for the detection, monitoring, collection and prevention of marine litter were highlighted, including artificial intelligence, citizen science, Earth Observation, digital platforms, data utilisation, autonomous technologies and solutions that can support public authorities and coastal communities.
The two Roundtables provided an important opportunity for dialogue among scientific bodies, public authorities, environmental organisations, technology companies and members of the AIMLIN Network, with the common aim of moving from the recording and detection of marine litter towards practical solutions, cooperation schemes and joint actions for the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
The participation of the Development Agency of the South Aegean Region in the PREVENT project highlights the importance placed on the protection of the marine environment, particularly in an island region with an extensive coastline, high environmental value, intense tourism activity and a direct connection between local development and the sea.
Through the PREVENT project, transnational cooperation, the exchange of know-how, the participation of regional and local stakeholders in innovation networks, and the use of modern technological tools for the prevention and more effective management of marine pollution are further strengthened.

We are pleased to invite you to two upcoming roundtables organized by the Interreg IPA ADRION PREVENT Project, taking place as a parallel event of the Aquaculture Congress 2026.

📍 Athens, Greece
📅 15 May 2026
🕐 13:00 – 16:00 (EET)
📌 Hybrid event (in-person & online participation available)

Hosted at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, the event will bring together key stakeholders, researchers, and innovators to explore collaborative and technological solutions for marine litter management.

🔹 Provisional Programme
• 13:00 – Roundtable 1
• 14:00 – Networking lunch
• 15:00 – Roundtable 2

🔹 Roundtable Topics
🌊 Enhancing Transnational Collaboration for Marine Litter Management
– Strengthening cooperation across borders
– Data sharing and coordinated responses
– Joint policy development and tools such as JTMLMS

🤖 Advancements in Technology for Marine Litter Management
– Remote sensing, AI, machine learning & IoT applications
– Early detection and prediction of marine litter
– Integrating innovative technologies into management systems

👉 Register here: https://aquaculture-congress.gr/en/registrations/
(Select “PREVENT” under Registrant Status)

⚠️ We encourage early registration to ensure smooth participation planning.

🔜 The final agenda will be shared soon — stay tuned!

Steering Committee Meeting – Project PREVENT Interreg IPA ADRION
22 April 2026 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Zadar

Overview
Project partners met in Zadar to review progress and align next steps in addressing marine pollution across the Adriatic-Ionian region, with a focus on Work Package 2.

Key Highlights

* Progress on early detection technologies for coastal pollution
* Development of a user manual for detection tools
* Advancements in marine litter forecasting models
* Implementation of pilot actions for detection and forecasting
* Innovative, eco-friendly plastic waste reuse solutions
* Steps toward a joint transnational marine litter management system

Communication & Engagement
Updates included upcoming technical roundtables and ongoing website and social media activities to strengthen outreach.

Additional Update
Work continues on establishing an innovation network and finalizing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative marine litter solutions.

Conclusion
The meeting confirmed strong partner cooperation and steady progress toward protecting marine and coastal environments.

Innovation & Cooperation for Water Protection – AIMLIN Network
📍 Skopje UKLO | 16 February 2026

As part of the Interreg IPA ADRION – PREVENT Project, the AIMLIN Network was presented in Skopje by UKLO, highlighting a strong regional commitment to innovative and cooperative water protection in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

AIMLIN is a regional initiative dedicated to sustainable water management, built on the principles of scientific rigor, transparency, and inclusivity. It connects scientific institutions, monitoring services, and inspection authorities, ensuring a coordinated and effective approach to protecting aquatic ecosystems.

The network focuses on developing and applying modern methodologies for pollution monitoring, while enabling early warning systems and data-driven decision-making across the region. It also provides access to shared scientific resources, protocols, and comparative data, strengthening both research and operational capacities.

Key highlights:
🔹 Advanced tools for pollution monitoring and early warning
🔹 Harmonized methodologies and shared regional data
🔹 Strong focus on innovation, cooperation, and sustainability
🔹 Exchange of expertise and best practices among partners
🔹 Supporting alignment with EU environmental standards

AIMLIN represents a significant step toward integrated, science-based water protection, fostering long-term cooperation and resilience in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

Strengthening Environmental Security in the Adriatic-Ionian Region
📍 Skopje | 16 February 2026
Faculty of Security UKLO– Skopje

The Faculty of Security – Skopje hosted a high-level event under the PREVENT Project (Interreg IPA ADRION Programme), bringing together academia, national institutions, and international partners to strengthen environmental security and regional cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian area.

The discussions focused on addressing environmental degradation, pollution risks, and improving institutional coordination, with strong emphasis on regional cooperation frameworks such as EUSAIR and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Key project results were presented, including:
🔹 criminological perspectives on environmental impacts
🔹 risk assessment and pollution monitoring tools
🔹 an interactive environmental data platform

National institutions, including the State Environmental Inspectorate, Hydrometeorological Service, and Hydrobiological Institute – Ohrid, highlighted the need for stronger inspection capacities, improved environmental monitoring, and biodiversity protection.
The programme opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Jonce Ivanovski, Dean of the Faculty of Security – Skopje. A key focus was the strategic alignment of IPA ADRION projects with EUSAIR and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, highlighting the role of regional cooperation in advancing EU environmental and security standards.
The event was held under the guidance of Professor Dr. Aleksandar Ivanov (UKLO),ensuring the successful implementation and strategic direction of the project activities.

The event concluded with the presentation of the AIMLIN Network MoU, marking an important step toward long-term regional cooperation and sustainable environmental governance.EnvironmentalSecurity