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Bringing together a diverse group of EU-funded initiatives, the workshop explored how digital technologies, AI-driven tools, interoperable environmental data systems, and innovative monitoring solutions are helping address some of the most pressing challenges facing Europe’s waters and oceans – including pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change impacts.

The session featured projects including Restore4Life, EFFECTIVE, AUTOASSESS, REMEDIES, iMERMAID, TASC-RESTOREMED, and ADT4Blue, each presenting practical and scalable solutions supporting the sustainable transition of the Blue Economy.

EFFECTIVE Highlights Nature-Based Restoration and Digital Innovation

Representing EFFECTIVE, Vukašin Orsić (F6S) presented the project’s integrated approach to restoring and managing Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas through the combination of:

• Coral nurseries and transplantation activities 
• Reef restoration systems 
• Innovative nature-based solutions, including bio-enhanced structures 
• The COSEA Citizen Science App 
• The Digital Twin of Blue Parks 

The presentation highlighted how EFFECTIVE combines real-world restoration interventions with smart monitoring and digital tools to support ecosystem-based management and evidence-based decision-making in marine environments.

Particular attention was given to the project’s use of digital technologies to transform complex marine data into accessible insights for MPA managers, policymakers, researchers, and local communities. The COSEA App was showcased as a participatory tool enabling citizens to actively contribute observations related to marine ecosystems, while the Digital Twin demonstrator illustrated how environmental data, monitoring systems, and modelling outputs can be integrated into a single interactive environment.

Interactive Discussions on Digital Transformation for Ocean Resilience

The workshop combined short solution-focused pitches with an engaging panel discussion addressing key cross-cutting challenges, including:

• Data interoperability 
• Digital literacy and innovation uptake 
• Citizen engagement 
• AI and digital tools for environmental monitoring 
• Scaling innovative solutions across marine and coastal regions 

The session also fostered dialogue between innovators, policymakers, regional authorities, researchers, and investors interested in accelerating the deployment of digital solutions for healthier and more resilient waters.

Best Workshop Award

The workshop received the BEST WORKSHOP Award, recognising its excellence in workshop design, participant engagement, and overall impact during the Digital Transformation Summit 2026.

The award reflects the strong collaboration between participating projects and the growing importance of digital innovation in supporting marine ecosystem restoration, environmental monitoring, and sustainable blue economy transitions across Europe.

EFFECTIVE is proud to have contributed to this collaborative discussion and looks forward to continuing to strengthen synergies with other Mission Ocean and Horizon Europe initiatives working towards healthier, safer, and more resilient waters and oceans.

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Day 1 was fully dedicated to internal coordination and technical exchange at CEAB. The programme opened with a welcome session outlining meeting goals, followed by project-wide updates from all work packages. Discussions focused on moving “From Data to Action: Making Blue Parks Work for People,” alongside presentations on the Governance Toolkit (“Shared Seas, Sustained Futures”), Digital Twin Pilot 1, live mapping of interdependencies, and modelling activities. The day combined plenary dialogue with parallel technical sessions, creating space for both strategic reflection and hands-on exchange.

Day 2 shifted the focus to field engagement and pilot-site integration. The consortium travelled to L’Estartit, where sessions were hosted at Espai Medes in the harbour area. Participants visited the Medes Islands Natural Park during a two-hour boat trip, linking project discussions to real-world marine protection and restoration practice. The COSEA citizen science application supported on-site engagement and documentation. Upon returning to Blanes, the programme continued at CEAB with the GPA-CSIC Blue Carbon presentation, “Mapping the Matte: Posidonia Carbon Accounting using Advanced Sonar,” and an OOF-CSIC session on the information pillar in Pilots 1 and 3, highlighting early results and data integration progress.

Day 3 returned to CEAB and centred on marine restoration and forward planning. A keynote address by Simonetta Fraschetti, titled “Lessons learned in a decade of marine restoration,” provided strategic insight drawn from long-term restoration experience. The programme continued with a roundtable discussion on xRestoration projects involving IMEDEA, PEREMCAT, OOF, CORAL SOUL, OE, and ICM, followed by a focused session to consolidate the 90-Day Action Plan. The day reinforced collaboration across scientific, technical, and governance dimensions of the project.

Overall, the three days in Blanes combined strategic alignment, technical depth, and field-based learning. By integrating digital innovation, blue carbon science, governance tools, and restoration practice, the meeting strengthened the consortium’s shared direction and reinforced EFFECTIVE’s commitment to delivering measurable impact for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

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We, at the EFFECTIVE project, were represented by Claudia Pala, Project Specialist of One Ocean Foundation, who spoke about the project’s objectives and activities in the framework of Pilot 3 in Northern Sardinia. Our project aims to shape a sustainable Mediterranean Blue Future by promoting large-scale marine protected areas in European seas, contributing to the EU goal of protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030. We focus on applying the Ecosystem-Based Management System (EBMS) to support the protection and restoration of the EU’s Mediterranean Blue Natural Capital.

Through Pilot 3 in Northern Sardinia, we are implementing EBMS in protected areas, combining scientific research, technological solutions, and stakeholder engagement. The pilot builds on local knowledge and research, including studies conducted in the Caprera Canyon, and demonstrates how integrated approaches can strengthen conservation management while fostering participation and collaboration among local stakeholders.

The EFFECTIVE project brings together 22 partners from 12 European countries, spanning universities, research organizations, SMEs, public institutions, and solution providers. Across four pilot sites — Mar de l’Empordà and Ebro Delta in Spain, Northern Sardinia in Italy, and Cavo Greco in Cyprus — we develop innovative approaches to marine ecosystem management and restoration. By integrating multiple observation and monitoring scales with governance and social engagement, we aim to provide comprehensive scientific guidance and practical tools for the sustainable management and restoration of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.

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The EFFECTIVE project took center stage at the One Ocean Science Congress 2025, held from June 3rd to 6th in Nice, France. The project’s coordination team from Centro Tecnológico Naval y del Mar (CTN) represented EFFECTIVE, showcasing its innovative approach to marine conservation to a global audience.

The One Ocean Science Congress, a pivotal event within the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), was organized by UNESCO Ocean, CNRS, and Ifremer.

Natalia Preciado, CTN’s Head of Marine Conservation and Restoration, presented the EFFECTIVE project through a dedicated poster that was prominently displayed throughout the congress. The poster highlighted the project’s innovative methodology for marine restoration, which is firmly rooted in scientific evidence.

EFFECTIVE’s unique approach integrates ecological, social, and governance criteria to meticulously select priority areas for intervention across the Mediterranean. This comprehensive framework ensures that restoration efforts are not only scientifically sound but also consider the broader societal and regulatory contexts, maximizing their potential for long-term success.

CTN’s participation in the One Ocean Science Congress underscores its commitment to advancing marine science and fostering sustainable ocean practices. The exposure gained at this event will undoubtedly contribute to the continued development and widespread adoption of the EFFECTIVE project’s vital work in preserving our invaluable marine ecosystems.

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From June 26 to 28, the 11th edition of the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) brought together 450+ participants from 35 countries in Valencia, the European Green Capital for 2024.

This annual event has established itself as a vital platform for urban resilience, drawing city leaders, climate experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond to collaborate on strategies for building resilient cities in response to climate change and other urban challenges.

2024’s edition of EURESFO centered around three main thematic areas and a fourth special focus stream: 

1. Multilevel governance, cooperation and just transition;

2. Water resilience and promotion of the Blue Economy within and beyond the Mediterranean region;

3. Enabling the transformation towards resilient, adaptive, and climate-neutral cities and regions;

4. Humanitarian response to post-conflict resilience and recovery.

 

A comprehensive track programme

Over the course of this 3-day event, attendees participated in interactive sessions, workshops, and study visits with the goal of encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing. Key topics addressed include:

• Adaptation finance: practical and sustainable solutions to bridge the gap between financiers and cities striving for climate neutrality;
• Multi-level governance: effective approaches to enhancing climate resilience through multi-level governance for regional and national adaptation efforts;
• Climate adaptation and mitigation: innovative methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adjusting to climate impacts;
• Resilient infrastructure: strategies for designing and maintaining infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather and other stressors;
• Community engagement: best practices for involving local communities in resilience planning and decision-making;
• Digital resilience: leveraging digital tools, platforms, and technologies to boost urban resilience.

The discussions emphasized the importance of collective action in transforming cities into sustainable and livable environments for all.

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