The 3rd Annual Mission Forum was a dynamic event that showcased impressive progress, groundbreaking innovation, and brought together the voices of Mission communities, while outlining key steps toward the 2030 targets.
On 4 March, the Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters’ community gathered in Brussels for its third Annual Forum, part of the European Ocean Days. The Forum offered a comprehensive reflection on the Mission’s achievements to date, featuring an interactive on-site exhibition that highlighted cutting-edge solutions developed by Mission Ocean-funded projects, while also addressing the challenges that remain.
Following the opening remarks of Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, more than 50 distinguished speakers from diverse fields took part in engaging pitch presentations and panel discussions, addressing urgent ocean and water-related issues and offering valuable insights and inspiration. The dynamic discussions unfolded in front of a full house of over 1800 participants, both in person and online, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders – public authorities, policymakers, scientists and researchers, businesses, investors, NGOs, civil society and youth – all united in their commitment to the Mission.
A recurring theme was the Mission’s role in shaping the upcoming European Ocean Pact, which will champion a regenerative approach to the blue economy, supporting the preservation of ocean systems and biodiversity. To further strengthen the competitiveness of European blue industries, the EU Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy will be introduced next year, expanding and reshaping the Mission’s objectives.
The Ocean Pact is an opportunity to ensure coherence across all EU policy areas linked to the ocean, with clear objectives, developing a competitive and sustainable European blue economy and protecting and restoring ocean health, productivity and resilience.
Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
Progress and key achievements
The event’s thematic sessions highlighted Mission Ocean’s remarkable advancements, supported by a €400 million investment from Horizon Europe, towards its key objectives by 2030: protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, preventing and eliminating pollution, and making the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular. The Forum also discussed the development and operationalisation of the Digital Twin of the Ocean by 2030, along with achievements in mobilising stakeholders and communities across Europe, strengthening their sense of ownership of the ocean, and encouraging action through various tools, including citizen science.
Participants learned about cutting-edge innovations from several of the 67 Mission Ocean-funded projects, under Horizon Europe, tested and deployed across 223 demonstration sites, such as oyster reef restoration by CLIMAREST and drone-generated plastic waste mapping by INSPIRE. Charter Actions also took the stage, exemplifying the Mission’s ability to mobilise diverse actors to work collaboratively across various sectors.
Our progress efforts are expected to unlock synergies across governance and funding levels. Since 2021, we have invested €392 million through Horizon Europe, funding 67 projects with 846 organisations and establishing 223 demonstration sites. We have received over 1,100 pledges under the Mission Charter. Sixteen Member States, over 30 regions, and 70 municipalities have joined our goals.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
A key theme of the Forum was the importance of replicating, deploying, and up-scaling these solutions, with special emphasis on the Mission lighthouses, which support the Mission’s objectives These lighthouses have become key hubs of activity, driving coordinated action at the basin level to implement and expand innovative solutions across the EU.
Attention was also drawn to ports, islands, and fisheries communities, where beneficiaries of technical assistance from the Mission’s Call for Expression of Interest were awarded. 19 projects, selected from 11 EU Member States across all four Lighthouses, are currently receiving technical assessment and feasibility studies to enhance and support their initiatives, contributing to the Mission’s objectives.
Looking ahead
Experts agreed that to deploy solutions at scale and speed, additional financial support will be required. The Forum placed a significant focus on securing funding from EU, national, regional, local and private sources, showcasing initiatives like the ‘EU Blue Champions’ scheme in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), and EIT Water, the new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
They also stressed the importance of strengthening the Mission’s governance at all levels, establishing a robust monitoring system to track progress, ensuring alignment with EU policies such as the Ocean Pact, and expanding marine knowledge and data. These steps are essential to sustaining the momentum generated by the Mission and ensuring its long-term success in enhancing both social welfare and economic competitiveness.
Source: European Commission
