About Innovative Transformative Solutions
The “Innovative Transformative Solutions” (ITS) are understood as novel products (tangible or intangible outputs) or methodologies (processes and strategies for collaboration) which contribute to transformational change towards achievement of the objectives of the EU Mission to Restore our Oceans and Waters, particularly Objective 2 (prevention and elimination of pollution from our oceans and waters).
The definition lays its conceptual ground on the scientific literature associated to transformative change and to open & sustainability-oriented innovation. Innovative solutions may address the problem without fundamental changes to the system, while truly transformative solutions require thinking change, economy transition, business transformation and is the most challenging way forward.
Moreover, the solutions are selected based on the priorities identified in the BMM Operational Implementation Roadmap (OIR), in a co-design process with Mediterranean Stakeholders from seven economic sectors (Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Ports & Transport, Plastics Industry, Tourism, WWTP & SWM in cities).
The ITS framework classifies the solutions according to the hierarchy of actions for depollution as defined by Objective 2 of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. All levels of action against pollution are needed and should be considered as complementary to each other:
Prevention
Includes innovative solutions that confront the problem at its source and prevent the generation of pollution, by developing alternative approaches.
Minimization
Includes solutions that capture/destroy generated pollutants, before entering the environment. Usually applied to entry points of pollutants in the environment.
Elimination and Remediation
Includes solutions that deal with the collection/destruction of pollutants already dispersed in the environment and remediation of natural spaces.
Monitor and control
Includes solutions related to acquisition and establishment of reliable baseline data on the stocks, flows, pathways, hotspots, and time-dependent trends of different pollutants in different environmental compartments.
The hierarchy of innovation actions and their relationship to the four ontology domains of the BMM project. Environmental Monitoring and is considered a cross-cutting action. Source: BMM OIR.
A further means of classification is related to the four ontology domains of the BMM project:
Technology
Piloted and tested technological solutions.
Social
New frameworks for citizen engagement, training, and education including citizen science activities.
Governance
Inclusive, bottom-up and participatory processes or new governance frameworks for enabling and managing systemic transformation.
Business
Ensuring local business development and participation.
Finally, the EU Mission lays out through its objectives and targets the three main types of pollution which should be addressed by ITS: 1. Plastics and microplastics, 2. Chemical pesticides and 3. Nutrients.
Objective 2 of EU Mission, including its targets to be achieved by 2030. Source: own elaboration based on EU Mission sources.
The BlueMissionMed project partners rigorously evaluated 87 Innovative Transformative Solutions in terms of TRL, replicability, scope and dimension. From these 87, 32 Innovative Transformative Solutions are showcased in the BlueMissionMed portfolio.
