Deliverables

BlueMissionMed “Management and implementation booklet” aims to give a quick overview of the most relevant managerial aspects of the project setting the rules and responsibilities of the partners aimed at ensuring good quality and progress of the work. It will also provide evidence of the risk management framework and the quality control procedure which is foreseen for the Project. This document reports all the required knowledge for the good management of the project documentation and contains all information related to the management strategy, structure of the consortium, reporting issues, templates to be used, meetings procedures, etc. This document does not replace the European Commission guidance documents or the Grant Agreement, the purpose of this guide is to clarify the legal and financial aspects of the Grant Agreement and Consortium Agreement that may need further explanations to beneficiaries. This guide is a ‘living’ document and can be modified according to the project needs. Every time the document is updated, all the partners will be duly informed about the updates and the changes made concerning the previous version.

This document is the first version of a living document that is expected to mature during the BlueMissionMed project lifetime and will be updated accordingly. The Data and Ethics Management Plan (DEMP) describes the data management life cycle for the data
to be collected, processed and/or generated and made available by this HE project. As part of making data findable, accessible, interoperable and re-usable (FAIR), the DEMP will include information on:
• the handling of data during and after the end of the project;
• what kind of data will be collected, processed or generated;
• which standards will be applied;
• how data will be eventually shared
• any ethical issue that may arise.
This deliverable contains the project policy for data management and ethics as agreed by partners and it has been prepared with the collaborative work of the Coordinator, the Project Manager, the Data Manager, the Ethical Advisor and the Consortium Partners who will be involved in data collection, process and storage. The described data policy is consistent with the statements regarding data management as contained in the current BMM Consortium Agreement (CA) and in the Grant Agreement (GA), in particular Annex 5.
The present deliverable is the result of Task 1.2 belonging to WP1 “Coordination and Management” and is submitted four months after the start of the project, as required by the European Commission, in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/6791, the European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).

The present Document summarises the status of the organization, functioning and activities of the Governing Bodies, namely the Overarching Steering Committee and the Technical Advisory Board (The External Advisory Boards or EAB) and the Boards of the Ecosystem Enablers. These bodies are set to implement and facilitate the project strategic orientation and to provide specific advice on project activities and results.
The document is a living document and will be updated together with the project development.

The present Terms of Reference provides useful guidelines for the functioning of the Mediterranean Sea Basin LH governance to implement the Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030.

BlueMissionMed project aims to set up, structure and empower the Mediterranean Lighthouse area by supporting the development and deployment of transformative innovative technological, social, business and governance solutions for ensuring a 30-50% reduction of pollution of the basin hydrosphere by 2030. The present Operational Implementation Roadmap aims to serve as a planning and management tool – a compass- for achieving the Mission targets by 2030 in the Mediterranean Region. This involves a co-design process with key actors/stakeholders of the region to define a common vision and strategic priorities. The process includes the inter-relation of the technological/scientific, policy, economic and social ontology domains of the BMM project.

The BlueMissionMed National and Regional Hubs are the driving force behind the project’s success. They serve as catalysts for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordinated action, contributing significantly to the collective effort to safeguard the Mediterranean from pollution. Through these hubs, BlueMissionMed transforms ideas into impactful initiatives, creating a lasting legacy for a cleaner and healthier Mediterranean.
The present Terms of Reference provides useful guidelines for the functioning of the National/Regional HUBs governance to implement the Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030. This document is designed as a dynamic reference, meant to evolve and be periodically updated throughout the project’s duration.

The engagement and mobilization of the Stakeholder Group (STG) is crucial to the EU Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030 to facilitate the commitment of civil society organizations, citizens’ representatives/citizens’ assemblies, local communities and private entities, including SMEs. The present report illustrates the progress made by the BlueMissionMed CSA regarding the mobilisation and the management of the Stockholder group involved in the implementation of the Mission Ocean in the Mediterranean Lighthouse. This is a working document meant to be periodically updated throughout the Project’s duration, and it complements the Term of Reference of the Mediterranean Sea Basin Lighthouse.

This deliverable compiles and analyses information on selected projects and initiatives which have been identified as relevant for the accomplishment of objectives of the Mission to Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030 in the Mediterranean Lighthouse (LH) area. It contributes to the objectives of the BlueMissionMed project by, on the one hand, providing a baseline of projects and initiatives underpinning the accomplishment of the Mission’s goals in the Mediterranean LH area, and on the other hand, it sets the basis for the identification of concrete outputs and results that may be beneficial to the Mediterranean Lighthouse (LH) Area stakeholder community and be readily exploited by potential end-users.
The information on each project and initiative has been collected through desk research from relevant funding programmes repositories and, where available, from the projects and/or initiatives’ websites. As a result from this mapping exercise, a portfolio of 206 projects and initiatives relevant to Objective 2 of the Mission: prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas, and waters (achieve zero pollution) with a minimum of two partners in the Mediterranean Lighthouse area have been identified and compiled in the BlueMissionMed projects and initiatives database (Annex III), which constitutes the main source of information of this document. Some of the assessed projects are also quoted in the EU Commission portfolio analysis of the contribution of over 800 EU-funded projects to the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters1. A detailed description of the methodology, criteria and sources of information defined to identify these projects and initiatives is provided in Section 2 of the present deliverable.
Following a qualitative analysis performed on the basis of the information collected on their objectives, outcomes, and outputs, the projects and initiatives included in the database have been categorised along the Zero Pollution Hierarchy, which includes the following dimensions: Prevention, Elimination and Remediation, Minimisation, and Monitoring. Their contribution to the Mission’s Objective 2 specific targets (Reducing by at least 50% plastic litter at sea and at least 30% microplastics released into the environment; and reducing by at least 50% nutrient losses, the use and risk of chemical pesticides) has also been identified. Moreover, their coverage of BlueMissionMed Operational Implementation Roadmap (OIR) priority sectors has been assessed. Lastly, the projects and initiatives’ results have been categorised across different types of services or solutions as proposed by the Mission Oceans Charter (Research and innovation, Evidence-based knowledge and data, Upscaling, deployment and replication of solutions, Citizen engagement, and Education and training). The analysis of the project ontology’s type of solutions will be elaborated at a second phase.
This has allowed for a preliminary analysis of overall trends and the identification of gaps for the successful implementation of the Mission in the Mediterranean LH Area (Section 3). To support this qualitative and quantitative assessment, the above-mentioned desk research exercise was complemented with targeted interviews with project coordinators, on the basis of a standard set of questions. A total of 51 interviews have been carried out to date.
In addition, as a key feature of this document, a selection of 50 illustrative projects and initiatives across the categories mentioned above are presented in more detail, summarised in a one-pager fiche for each of them (Section 4). It should be noted that these projects have not been assessed and selected in terms of their particular relevance or impact to the accomplishment of the Mission’s goals and ambitions, but rather constitute an exemplifying sample to give the stakeholder community an at-a-glance overview of the different types of solutions being currently developed in the Mediterranean LH Area. Therefore, the wider BlueMissionMed database of projects and initiatives should be considered the main research output of Task 3.1 and the key information and analysis tool to be used in the context of the project activities. Under Section 5, a summary list of all Objective 2 related projects identified is provided.
Importantly, the present Deliverable and the BlueMissionMed database will provide the basis to develop a comprehensive portfolio relevant already developed and assessed solutions that might be scalable and replicable in the context of Task 3.3, which will make the LH final users aware of what can and how this be done thanks to “fit for purpose” road maps for preventing and reducing MED hydrosphere pollution from 30 to 50% by 2030 and for its restoration.
This deliverable will be updated and populated with additional projects and initiatives by December 2025.

This report outlines the results of a series of stakeholder inputs collected during a set of participatory activities and concerning the barriers, resistances, gaps, opportunities, enablers and needs for the successful implementation of Innovative Transformative Solutions for achieving objective 2 (hydrosphere depollution) of the EU Mission Restore Our Oceans and Waters. The report firstly illustrates in detail the methodology followed for its development alongside the general approach followed by WP3 of the BlueMissionMed project, dedicated to gathering the views of stakeholders involved in the 7 National Hubs affiliated to the initiative. Through a series of Mobilization and Mutual Learning workshops, inputs were gathered based on a willing selection of 32 solutions out of the final Portfolio that is being developed in D3.4 of the project. Additionally, the report also feeds upon two further typologies of participatory activities: a think tank exercise for solution implementation by local authorities and an online focus group with the EC Mission Secretariat to validate the results. After illustrating the catalogue of selected solutions (including their classification, description and how they fill R&I Gaps in the Mediterranean Sea-basin area), the report produces a set of integrated results by coupling stakeholder inputs on features of solutions implementation and classifying them by domain (Tech, Social, Governance, Financial solutions) and scope (e.g. water treatment systems and devices, initiatives for the private sector). This helps to generate a series of general fields of action which should be undertaken by different Mediterranean stakeholders for the successful implementation of innovative transformative solutions for hydrosphere depollution. Lastly, the experience of the participatory activities and the results of the stakeholder analysis are also instrumental in developing a series of recommendations for the next stages of the BlueMissionMed project, including the development of a catalogue of experts and services for successful solutions uptake and implementation.

The present Deliverable 3.4 is a portfolio of transformative and innovative solutions for the depollution of the Mediterranean Sea. The solutions have been identified through a desktop study based on the list of R&I projects that address Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters Objective 2 (Del.3.1) funded by the EU or other national or private initiatives. For the selection of the solutions a set of criteria were applied to identify innovative and revolutionary solutions, such as driving the development of new business and mental models, changing values and demands; enabling new business models; addressing the problem without fundamental changes to the system; TRL level and/or already demonstrated in pilot actions; addressing the challenges identified by the BMM OIR to the maximum extent possible; representation of all sectors including monitoring & control. Out of more than 200 R&I projects, 86 solutions are included in the present portfolio.The primary grouping of the identified solutions was based on the economic sector (Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fisheries, Plastics Industry, Ports & Transport, Tourism, as well as the WWTP and SWM in cities and regions) they are related to in accordance with the BMM OIR. Then within each sector the solutions were categorized along the EU zero-pollution waste hierarchy dimensions (Prevention, Minimisation, Elimination & Remediation) and along the domains of technology, policy, society, finance. Further grouping of the solutions was based on their specific scope and finally according to the specific contaminant they target. Solutions related to Monitoring & Control are transversal for all sectors and are grouped separately.Most of the solutions (32%) address the ‘minimisation’ dimension. The ‘prevention’ and the ‘elimination & remediation’ dimensions are addressed by a lower number of solutions (25 % and 27% respectively). On the ‘monitoring & control’ dimension the lowest number of solutions was identified (16%). Overall, more than half of the solutions were purely technological ones (55%) or technological combined with other domains (11%). Purely societal and governance solutions correspond to 8% and 6% respectively. This is related to the fact that the present portfolio is based on EU funded and regional Mediterranean R&I projects, most of them calling for technological development. However, upscaling and adopting technological solutions necessitates the integration of financial, governance and societal factors and it appears that most solutions were weak in these domains. Similarly, pure governance, societal or financial solutions require the involvement of multiple actors to achieve their replicability and long-term viability. The scope and features of the solutions are described in detail in relation to the economic sector they belong to in Chapter 3.
In addition to the portfolio, a subset of 22 solutions were selected for interviewing the respective solutions developers. The purpose of the interviews was to understand and record the barriers, needs and opportunities in the EU and regional Mediterranean R&I landscape as conceived by the solution developers. Findings highlight that upscaling solutions for pollution mitigation needs to go hand-in-hand with appropriate legislative, regulatory frameworks and environmental standards. In many cases, solutions lack business models including a full value chain, a factor which hinders the exploitation of instruments for the assimilation of costs such as public-private partnerships. A common understanding of green practices among all actors is required to ensure commitment and coordination. At the same time solution developers need to instill faith in the efficacy of their solutions in order to attract investors.

This deliverable (D5.4-Exploitation and Sustainability Plan) is divided into eight sections. The document begins with the executive summary (section 1), introduction (section 2) and background (section 3) describing the content of the document, defining exploitation and sustainability concepts and specific objectives of this plan and explaining the context of the Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030 and the project BlueMissionMed (BMM).
Section 4 provides a preliminary list of main exploitable results, according its exploitation potential level, based on four types of categories (type of result, type of user, impact on EU Mission objectives and geographical scope).
Section 5 (exploitation plan) focuses on the exploitation methodology and in this context describes the work plan with the key exploitable results (hereafter KER), five categories of target users, five types of channels and tools for exploitation purposes, activities, responsible partner and timeline aiming to achieve the highest impact.
Additionally, for achieving the exploitation of the projects’ results, an individual half-page exploitation plan for each consortium member is established after partner’s consultation through bilateral meetings and specific surveys.
Section 6 (sustainability plan) focuses on the sustainability plan and follows the same strategy and structure of the section 5 describing the methodology to guarantee that the project outcomes will remain sustainable in the future and describing an individual half-page sustainability plan for each consortium member.
Section 7 includes a risk management strategy, identifying preventive and mitigation measures, to guarantee the effectiveness and success of BMM exploitation and sustainability activities.
Finally, Section 8 provides summary and conclusions.

This deliverable will describe the Communication, Dissemination and Outreach strategy, activities and tools that will be implemented by BlueMissionMed throughout the entire lifetime of the project. The strategy ensures that all Communication materials will be in line with the MISSION Narrative and will ensure alignment with the PREP4BLUE CSA and with the Mission Implementation Platform. This strategy contains a variety of information meant to guide BlueMissionMed partners in conveying contents and messages targeted per specific audiences, while adhering to the established branding. Partners are welcome and encouraged to use this information in their Communication efforts and to involve Communication and Dissemination leaders when organising/participating in Communication and Dissemination activities. In addition, the partner responsible for Communication, Dissemination and Outreach, namely FVA, will assist and support the partners in their activities connected to this aspect. The strategy will be regularly assessed and updated to follow the evolution of the project.

The present deliverable concisely introduces the BlueMissionMed online platform, closely linked to task 6.4. The primary goal of this platform is to make the results of the BlueMissionMed project accessible and foster interaction within the Mediterranean stakeholder community. The platform aims to provide advanced tools to facilitate networking, matchmaking, information sharing, and access to funding opportunities. The dynamic nature of this deliverable is evident in its designation as a “living document,” intended to be continuously updated based on the progress and results achieved during the project.

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