The Innovative Sustainable Economy (ISE) Mission continues to reinforce its commitment to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean through its collaboration with the BlueMissionMed project.
On 4–5 November 2025, the ISE Mission participated in ECOMONDO 2025, Europe’s leading event for ecological transition technologies and strategies. This was part of the activities of the BlueMissionMed Mediterranean Lighthouse Bootcamp.
The first session, held on 4 November, was titled Boosting the Implementation of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters: Tools, Strategies, Knowledge and Legacy for the Mediterranean Sea Basin. It brought together Interreg programmes of strategic importance to the region, including NEXT MED, IPA ADRION, and Italy–Croatia. Participants discussed current European strategic directions and explored planned actions to support a sustainable blue economy under the Pact for the Mediterranean. The session then also featured a dynamic debate, during which the Programmes presented their actions and most relevant projects addressing water-related challenges across the Mediterranean.
During the event, the ISE Mission presented its ongoing collaboration with BlueMissionMed, highlighting initiatives aimed at fostering exchange and cross-fertilisation between Interreg projects focused on water management, purification, and ecosystem restoration.
Additionally, the Blue Task Force was introduced as an informal body coordinating initiatives for a sustainable blue economy in the region, enhancing strategic connections among institutional actors and regional initiatives.
Impacting together. Promoting cross fertilisation between Interreg and the Mission Ocean and Waters
On 5 November, another valuable cross-fertilisation workshop took place, providing Horizon Europe and Interreg with another opportunity to discuss water management in the Mediterranean region.
Numerous Interreg projects contributing to the objectives of Mission Ocean & Waters attended the workshop, particularly those focusing on the protection and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems, pollution prevention, and the promotion of a sustainable and circular blue economy. The workshop featured projects funded by the following programmes: Euro-MED, IPA ADRION, Italy–Croatia, Italy–France Maritime and Italy–Malta.
The projects presented a variety of complementary approaches, ranging from nature-based solutions for mitigating climate change and recovering biodiversity (BEPREPARED, ARIANNA, CRADLES, CLEPSYDRA and BRAVE) to using advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to monitor and manage water resources and quality (AINATURE and CLEPSYDRA).
Many projects focused on preventing and reducing pollution through monitoring plastic waste, adopting circular solutions, and raising awareness among citizens and young people (LOOPZONE, AWASTER, JOINABLE, SOUNDSCAPE, EPIC, TECHMARECO and TETHYS4ADRION).
Numerous interventions also promoted a sustainable, circular blue economy model with innovative strategies for aquaculture and fisheries, waste management, and the valorisation of by-products (AZA4ICE, 2B-BLUE, FISHIMPACT, ABBA and GROWTH4BLUE). Collaboration between universities, SMEs, NGOs and local authorities demonstrated the importance of a multi-stakeholder and transnational approach.
Participants also emphasised the need to scale up solutions in the future, highlighting the importance of access to targeted funding, greater visibility, networking and partnerships, capacity building, knowledge sharing, citizen engagement, and political and regulatory support. These actions are considered essential to ensure the replicability, effectiveness and lasting impact of the presented initiatives.
