INTERSMARTS Project of the International Hellenic University Named “Winnerof the Winners” at the Black Sea Project Awards 2025

The project INTERSMARTS – Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and
Services for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin, in which the International Hellenic University
(IHU) participates as a key partner, received the highest distinction at the Black Sea Project
Awards 2025, held within the framework of the Black Sea Stakeholder Conference in
Constanța, Romania, on 28 October 2025.
The INTERSMARTS initiative was awarded in the category “Fostering Investment in the Black
Sea Blue Economy” and was further distinguished as the “Winner of the Winners”, following a
live audience vote during the ceremony.
The Black Sea Project Awards, an initiative of the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) of the
European Commission supported by the Black Sea Assistance Mechanism, annually
recognize projects that advance the sustainable blue economy in the Black Sea region. The
Awards highlight innovative, practical, and efficient solutions that contribute to the CMA’s
strategic objectives in three main categories:
 Healthy Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
 A Competitive, Innovative, and Sustainable Blue Economy for the Black Sea
 Fostering Investment in the Black Sea Blue Economy
Out of the three projects selected by the Awards Jury — one from each category —
INTERSMARTS was chosen as the overall “Winner of the Winners” during a dynamic live
pitching competition held at the ceremony.
The project was invited to the Conference as an innovative example of interdisciplinary
cooperation, integrating research, networking, co-creation, and holistic knowledge generation
to enhance sustainability and innovation in tourism and blue economy services across the
Black Sea Basin. At the core of the project lies the INTERSMARTS Innovation Management
Platform, a digital crowdsourcing and innovation tool designed to accelerate collaborative and
sustainable solutions.
This unique approach was highly appreciated by CMA evaluators, as well as by
representatives from academia, business, public authorities, and civil society, who voted for
INTERSMARTS as the top initiative of the year.
The project is implemented by the Varna University of Management (Bulgaria), the
International Hellenic University (Greece), the Moldova State University (Republic of
Moldova), and the Istanbul Development Agency (Türkiye), and is co-funded by the
INTERREG NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027.
�� More about the Awards: Black Sea Project Awards 2025
�� More about INTERSMARTS: intersmarts.eu
�� INTERSMARTS Innovation Platform: innoplatform.intersmarts.eu