BSB00193 – EfxINNOs
Establishing and Operating an Innovative Marine Technology Transfer Network for Enhancing the Transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea Basin
Project consortium:
- Democritus University of Thrace-School of Engineering-Special Account for Research Funds (DUTH) – Greece, Lead partner
- Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (UBBSLA) – Bulgaria
- National Institute for Marine Research and Development ”Grigore Antipa” (NIMRD) – Romania
- Ilia State University (ISU) – Georgia
- Istanbul University – Türkiye
- Technical University of Varna – Bulgaria
Project duration: 30 months (08/2024 – 02/2027)
Total project budget: 1,643,648.40 EUR
Funded: (Interreg VI-B) NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme; Programme priority: Blue and Smart Region; Specific objective RSO1.1: Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
EfxINNOs will develop and operate a technologically-advanced network of monitoring platforms, recording marine environmental conditions and the impact of man-made pressures, to assess, delineate and protect key benthic ecosystems of the Black Sea and the North Aegean Sea. EfxINNOs activities will be in-line with EU marine policies and the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring Program, collecting data, reporting results and outlining policy recommendations, in accordance to the Common Maritime Agenda.
A series of mobile and static platforms, autonomous underwater vehicles (microAUVs), remotelyoperated vehicles (ROVs) and buoys, equipped with the appropriate physico-chemical sensors, side scan sonars and cameras will be operated, at selected pilot areas of ecological significance. These platforms will be collecting data, images and videos on the marine biodiversity from key benthic ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Northa Aegean Sea. EfxINNOs will correlate the dominant impacts of human activities with the health of benthic ecosystems to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the impact of each specific activity.
EfxINNOs will establish a viable transnational network that will provide significant
professional development opportunities for researchers, students and young professionals. It will enhance place-based development by supporting a sustainable path to Blue Growth, through the creation of a stimulating, inclusive and innovative learning environment. This will be achieved by carrying out a coherent set of Capacity development activities encompassing:
- Workshops on research methodologies and ML techniques.
- Training on advanced marine environmental monitoring instrumentation
- Collaboration between project teams in turning data into useful information for a wide array of Target Groups
- Encouraging the involvement of young scientists and professionals through their participation in joint training workshops and events
- Events, like the Concluding Conference, that will provide a platform for Partners to showcase achievements, network with diverse Target Groups and engage new stakeholders
- Joint policy briefs and Public Reports that highlight challenges and opportunities that entails a sustainable path to Blue Economy in the midst of the Ocean decade
PROJECT NEWSLETTERS
Newsletter #1 / February 2025
