Factsheet for measure
HR-2024-12/3735
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Updated
– measures in Croatia
Innovative Project Happy Sea
Inovativni projekt Sretno more
Background information
Pollution of the Adriatic Sea with waste and microplastics is one of the biggest environmental problems of our time. To raise awareness of this pressing challenge and encourage positive change, the company Telemach, in collaboration with the Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) Innovamare and the Ruđer Bošković Institute, launched 'Happy Sea'—an innovative socially responsible project that aims to educate young people and clean the seabed using the latest 5G technology. This is a long-term initiative through which Telemach primarily wants to raise awareness among young people about the seriousness of pollution of the Adriatic, create a sense of shared responsibility for its preservation, and encourage them to set an example for the rest of the community with their behaviour.
Content of measure
Upper elementary school students participate in educational workshops and local beach cleaning actions as part of the project. At the same time, divers are cleaning the seabed with the help of the first Croatian autonomous vessel Faust V, developed by the DIH Innovamare association, and underwater drones. It is a technological solution that reaches depths of up to 50 meters and precisely detects pollution using advanced sensors and a sophisticated monitoring system. For communication with the vessel, Telemach, as the initiator of the project and technology partner, provided the most modern 5G network, recently declared the most reliable and the best quality network in Croatia according to Opensignal. This enables the management of the vessel and underwater drones, and real-time video transmission with fast data transfer. Responsibility towards the community and the environment is an obligation for all citizens, and a special role in preserving the environment is played by young people, who are the drivers of a better future. Marine pollution is one of the most serious challenges of today, and therefore, more than ever, it is crucial to invest in education and raising awareness, as well as to use innovative technology to solve this problem. This was confirmed by a survey conducted last year with the Ipsos agency, according to which half of seventh and eighth grade elementary school students believe that they are not sufficiently informed about environmental issues and that education, along with the necessary changes in habits, waste reduction, organized clean-up campaigns, and technological achievements, are key to preserving our planet.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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15 August 2025
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Faust V is a vessel with multiple purposes, ranging from monitoring tourist traffic to assessing sea quality. The vessel is equipped with a drone and uses sensors and a sophisticated surveillance system to detect objects. In mid-May 2025, Faust V, which is part of the Project ‘Happy Sea’, arrived in Krilo Jesenice, 15 kilometres south of the City of Split. Forty divers and students from the local elementary school, with the support of the local community, cleaned the seabed of the port and beach and collected more than three tons of waste. The children sampled the sea, learned about microplastics, and made a difference with their own hands. Participating in such actions is not only a step towards a cleaner sea but also an investment in the awareness and behaviour of future generations. Partaking in campaigns such as 'Happy Sea' allows stakeholders to take concrete action and contribute to the preservation of the sea. By using innovative technologies, they can spot and remove waste faster and more precisely while at the same time educating children and young people about the importance of caring for the environment. This is not just cleaning but also an important step towards the long-term preservation of the sea and strengthening environmental awareness in society. This initiative shows how powerful a role technology plays in preserving natural resources. The Project ‘Happy Sea’ confirms that innovation is not a luxury but a necessity to achieve a greener future
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Use of measure
The “Happy Sea” project is not just an environmental initiative - it is an investment in future generations. There is a need to provide young people with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to be the carriers of change. Through education, practical action, and the application of innovative technologies, the community is actively involved in the preservation of the Adriatic, which creates solid foundations for a sustainable future. Because what we do now determines what the world will be like tomorrow. Participation in the “Happy Sea” initiative is of utmost importance for all stakeholders, because research and protection of the Adriatic Sea is one of Croatia's priority strategic research directions. The education of young people, cooperation with local communities, but also with companies focused on innovation and digital solutions, is key. Only by acting synergistically can one protect the Adriatic Sea for the benefit of current and future generations.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Company / Companies
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
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Companies
National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Social partners were not involved due to the nature of the measure,
Views and reactions
Social partners fully support all activities related to environmental preservation, but due to the nature of the Project were not directly involved in its realization
Sources
