QUEST, an Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin project with ANATOLIKI SA as a partner, was named winner in the category “Fostering Investment in the Black Sea Blue Economy”
Thessaloniki, 5 October 2026 – The QUEST project (Quadruple Helix-Based Enhancement of Stakeholders at Black Sea Territory) has received the 2026 Black Sea Project Award in the category “Fostering Investment in the Black Sea Blue Economy”. ANATOLIKI SA is a partner in the project, which is co-funded by the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme. The award was presented on 30 September 2026 in Burgas, Bulgaria, at the annual stakeholder conference (CMA Stakeholder Conference 2026) of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea.
This is the third edition of the Black Sea Project Awards, organised by the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea, an initiative supported by the European Commission. The awards recognise one project in each of three categories, which reflect the Agenda’s goals: healthy marine and coastal ecosystems, a competitive and sustainable blue economy, and fostering investment. Projects were assessed by an independent panel of experts, including representatives of the European Commission (DG MARE and CINEA). The criteria were innovation, impact, transnational cooperation, and potential for transfer across the Black Sea basin.
QUEST aims to strengthen the capacity of public bodies, universities, businesses and civil society organisations in the Black Sea region to identify funding opportunities and submit competitive proposals, particularly in the blue economy. Based on the quadruple helix model, it brings these four types of organisations together. Its main activities include training sessions and workshops, networking activities, and tools that help organisations find funding sources and partners to build project consortia.
About the project
QUEST is co-funded by the Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, with a total budget of €507,780.00 and a duration of 18 months. The partnership consists of:
- TCCI – Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Türkiye) – Project coordinator
- KTU – Karadeniz Technical University (Türkiye)
- UBBSLA – Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (Bulgaria)
- ANATOLIKI SA – Organisation for Local Development (Greece)
More information: questproject.net
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