Following the launch of the first calls for proposals in March 2023, the programme has now reached an important milestone.
By December 2025, tangible results are emerging: five projects will conclude this month, delivering visible and lasting benefits to communities across the Black Sea region.
The first Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin project finalized is Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and Services for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin (INTERSMARTS, BSB00332), marking an important milestone in strengthening sustainable tourism and blue growth across the region.
Implemented as a small-scale project, INTERSMARTS brought together academic institutions and development agencies from Black Sea Basin to address pressing tourism challenges such as overdevelopment, pollution, waste management, and limited innovation uptake. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, applied research, and technology transfer, the project has laid the foundations for a more resilient, innovative, and environmentally responsible tourism sector.
Over its implementation period (June 2024 – December 2025), the project delivered several concrete outcomes:
- Establishment of a Transnational Interdisciplinary Network - A cross-border cooperation framework was created, connecting research organisations, tourism stakeholders, and innovation actors to jointly develop smart and sustainable tourism solutions
- Regional Needs Assessments for Sustainable Tourism and Blue Growth - County- and region-specific analyses were conducted to identify local challenges, stakeholder expectations, and development priorities, ensuring that solutions are tailored to real community needs
- Online Database of Applied Research and Innovations - A dedicated digital repository was developed to showcase applied research, best practices, and innovative tools in smart and sustainable tourism, supporting knowledge transfer and replication across the region.
- Innovation Management Platform - The project introduced a collaborative online platform enabling idea generation, mentoring, and co-creation among tourism operators, researchers, and service providers to enhance sustainability performance
- Mentoring and Capacity Building - Experts from different disciplines worked together to guide stakeholders in developing innovative, practical solutions for sustainability challenges in tourism and related services.
The INTERSMARTS project has delivered lasting benefits to local communities and the broader tourism ecosystem in the Black Sea Basin, providing access to research-based solutions and smart technologies, and increasing awareness of sustainable tourism practices, thereby supporting environmental protection and promoting long-term economic growth.
By linking research, innovation, and real-world application, INTERSMARTS has helped bridge the gap between knowledge generation and practical implementation, empowering communities to pursue tourism development that is both competitive and environmentally responsible.