BlueMissionMed - Supporting the Mediterranean Sea Basin for the implementation of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters

Project Information

BlueMissionMed

Grant agreement ID: 101094073

DOI

10.3030/101094073

Project closed

EC signature date 7 December 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2025

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 3 000 097,51

EU contribution

€ 3 000 097,25

Coordinated by

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BlueMissionMed (Lighthouse coordinating and supporting the innovation ecosystem for a Healthy, Pollution free Mediterranean Sea)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The BlueMissionMed CSA proposes to set up, structure and empower a Mediterranean Sea (MED) Lighthouse (LH) supporting the development and deployment of transformative innovative technological, social, business and governance solutions for ensuring a 30-50% reduction of pollution due to microplastics, pesticides, excess nutrients, hydrocarbons, etc. of the basin hydrosphere by 2030.
The project builds on, connects and structures existing initiatives and activities, ultimately promoting basin-wide cooperation, commitment and deployment of solutions addressing the hydrosphere pollution prevention and reduction objectives of the Mission. BlueMissionMed also ensures:
•Coherence, alignment and monitoring of EU, national and local policies, initiatives and actions
•An effective provision of technical services, governance and business models to support and guarantee a sustainable socio-economic development of the basin
•A well-functioning basin scale innovation ecosystem attractive towards investors and businesses
•The required engagement of the society at large, thanks to a robust awareness raising and citizen science approach in its implementation in the sea basin and beyond
•The effective deployment of Mission Implementation Charter and piloting of the Mission objectives for the MED by 2025
To do so, 7 National and Regional HUBs have been established (France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye), which are Territorial Multistakeholder Communities. Their core role is to facilitate and support individuals and organizations willing to contribute achieving the objectives of the Project. The HUBs create a connected network of actors, experts and institutions, facilitating knowledge exchange and playing a pivotal role in providing them the necessary content and expertise, empowering stakeholders to develop and implement their role effectively.
BlueMissionMed has structured the MED Sea basin LH governance and networking and has framed the Ecosystem’s opportunity, needs and gaps, by also empowering and supporting the MED innovation ecosystem towards Mission Implementation and monitoring in the LH area.
The Project has been increasing the awareness about the Mission and is promoting the emotional connection and involvement of citizens in its implementation. Finally, it will consolidate the experience and lessons learned into recommendations for their transferability and replicability.
Figure 1_BMM Objectives.png

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

BlueMissionMed has supported the setting up of a multi-stakeholder and adaptable MED ecosystem connected with the Mission Secretariat of the European Commission and the Mission Implementation Platform and able to pursue the effective implementation of the Mission objectives, and roadmaps in the MED basin.
Through its activities and events, BlueMissionMed has effectively delivered a Mediterranean Sea basin LH Terms of Reference (ToR) that defines the strategic approach to reach the Mission objectives in the area. A major milestone was the organization of the BlueMissionMed Common Ground Camp, where stakeholders co-designed the MED basin governance structure, engaging key ecosystem enablers from the Mission Secretariat, UfM, BlueMed GSOs, WestMed, Eusair and UNEP-MAP. Also, seven Mobilization and Mutual Learning (MML) workshops were hosted by the HUBs, facilitating networking and the exchange of good practices, thus co-creating the HUBs’ ToRs and advancing the implementation of the project’s goals at the national and regional levels.
Through this network, BlueMissionMed has produced a LH “Operational Implementation Roadmap”, taking into consideration all four domains of technology/science, policy, economy, society: the OIR serves as an operational framework for multiple sectors, with respect to their needs and future actions for the design and the implementation of sectorial development strategies.
Within this priority framework, the project supports the development and deployment of transformative innovative solutions aligned with the Mission's objectives. To this end, BlueMissionMed has developed a comprehensive catalogue of 239 projects and initiatives offering innovative approaches to prevent and reduce pollution in our waters. Then, 86 solutions have been identified as suitable for implementation and upscaling of the MED Lighthouse priorities. 32 of them have been further assessed to identify gaps, barriers, resistances, and needs, to provide actionable recommendations to the MED Community interested in their successfully on site implementation.
To better connect and empower the MED Innovation Ecosystem, the LH online platform was embodied by the Business Country Desk platform, a digital tool that has been implemented to enhance access to BlueMissionMed knowledge, best practices, and networking opportunities.
Figure 2_BMM Path to Deploy ITSs.png

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

BlueMissionMed has advanced in governance, societal, economic, environmental, and scientific domains. These efforts have paved the way for the promotion and diffusion of innovative transformative solutions for the prevention and reduction of chemical pollution in the MED.
The potential impacts include:
-Enhanced capacity of the basin to deploy solutions to address Mission objectives: the governance framework has been pivotal for effective collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers, industry representatives, and academic institutions. This collaborative approach has enhanced the project’s capacity to address environmental challenges in the region while promoting sustainable economic growth and social well-being.
-Increased awareness and co-creation: the participatory approach has fostered stronger collaboration and engagement among MED stakeholders, preparing the ground for the deployment of co-created solutions. The targeted engagement strategy and the incentivization provided by the BlueMissionMed Awards motivated the support for ongoing and future initiatives. This multi-actor engagement is crucial and can serve as a model for other regions.
-Scalability and Replication: the methodologies and solutions developed can be adapted and applied in other basins, amplifying the impact beyond the MED. The establishment of supportive regulatory frameworks will be necessary to enable the smooth implementation of the Project's outcomes.

BlueMissionMed Overall Objectives

BlueMissionMed Path to Deploy Innovative Transformative Solutions