This action aims to prepare the implementation of Mission Ocean, Seas and Waters, with a particular focus on providing support for effective and timely deployment of the mission research and innovation core and for crosscutting citizen and stakeholder involvement during the identification, design and implementation of the mission.
The research and innovation core of the mission should aim at discovering and identifying novel solutions and innovations needed to address the societal challenges at the core of the mission and demonstrating through a network of ‘lighthouse demonstrators' their effectiveness and feasibility, for their future scale up and full deployment. The mission research and innovation core should be developed in line with and deliver on the Green Deal priorities and also contribute directly to the digital transition.
Link with CMA Goals:
Goal II: A competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy for the Black Sea / Priority 1: Foster innovative business models, stimulate research and innovation, and sustainable growth and up-to-date jobs
In close co-operation with the Mission Core Network, this action should prepare the ground for effective Mission deployment and for the identification, future scale-up and full deployment of these ‘lighthouse demonstrators’, including the following activities:
Develop, test and pilot methodologies for:
• the identification and selection of place-based ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ (to test, pilot, demonstrate, upscale and de-risk solutions and innovations in specific, real conditions), building on existing European innovation assets and R&I infrastructure.
• assessing the feasibility of the scale up of projects, actions or already ongoing initiatives, existing solutions or infrastructures focusing on ecosystem restoration and ecosystem based management, on zero pollution in marine and water ecosystems and on decarbonisation of Blue Economy sectors, including a systemic perspective and allowing for input of various types of expertiseand promoting multi-actor and multidisciplinary approaches.
• preparing for the digital transformation and integrating the ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ with the European digital initiatives.
• the development of inter-connected ‘lighthouse demonstrator’ networks allowing efficient exchanges of expertise and best practices and close cooperation to explore synergies, complementarities and solutions and innovations for deployment and scale up.
• Develop, test and pilot a set of methodologies for inclusion in lighthouse demonstrators and national mission hubs. These methodologies should be twofold. Firstly, they should enable the ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ and national mission hubs to achieve high quality and fit-for-purpose demonstration and ensure efficient preparation for scaling up of innovations from TRL 5, including digital solutions. Secondly, these methodologies should enable the co-creation and management of actions and projects with citizens and relevant stakeholders, based on co-creative working methods to ensure the highest degree of deployment of solutions and their fast and effective adoption by the beneficiaries. The action should also identify areas where use of such methodologies and approaches would be most effective in achieving tangible results.
• Develop and pilot a concept for an EU-wide network of citizens/stakeholder assemblies to bring all key actors together to ensure a successful implementation of the proposed mission. This would also require the necessary facilitators to ensure the most suitable delivery of bottom up participation and ownership. The action should develop a roll out plan for this network, including other resources needed to enable effective citizen and stakeholder involvement in ‘lighthouse demonstrators’, national mission hubs and other related activities of the mission resulting in tangible contributions from these actors to the mission. This concept should include trainings and qualification requirements for facilitators, as well as best practices on how to manage and resource this network.
• Map and facilitate synergies in the context of the below initiatives, by identifying opportunities for the creation of important R&I-related enabling conditions and skills in support of reaching the mission objectives:
o the skills agenda (ESF+) to create the needed capacities and skills;
o The ERASMUS+ programme;
o Horizon Europe instruments, including those of bottom-up nature like ERC, MSCA, EIT KICs, as well as its European partnerships and other missions;
o the European Innovation Fund,
o the Digital Europe Programme;
o the Space Programme; and
o other relevant EU, national and or regional programmes and instruments.
• Contribute to the mission outreach, dissemination and communication strategy and plan by providing visionary visual examples tailor made for various audiences of what a successful ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ could bring to communities in terms of public goods solutions (e.g. how would success look like in 10 years’ time, if those envisaged solutions would be successfully deployed)