Establishing and Operating an Innovative Marine Technology Transfer Network for Enhancing the Transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea Basin

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin

Date of latest update: 2025-03-26

Description

Description (EN):

EfxINNOs will jointly develop and operate a novel, cost-effective, technologically-advanced, sustainable network of marine monitoring platforms. This network will complement and enrich existing research infrastructures and serve the monitoring requirements of EU Policies (MSFD-Marine Strategy Framework Directive, MSP-Marine Spatial Planning, Biodiversity Strategy, Climate Change Action) and the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring Assessment Program (BSIMAP), linking the Black Sea Basin (BSB) and the North Aegean Sea (NAS). A series of mobile and static platforms, autonomous underwater vehicles (microAUVs), remotely-operated 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. The project will implement transnational cooperation to fill the gaps in data collection, data harmonization and policy implementation among the BSB and the NAS. Project-produced data will be made interoperable and available to all EU Data Collection networks. Machine learning (ML) tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms (mostly supervised and unsupervised image processing and object recognition techniques) will be used to analyze all collected data, images and videos to create benthic mosaics and assess the health indices of seagrass habitats. Any other object present on the seabed (anchors, litter, pipelines, etc.) will also be identified with the above approach from the AUV-collected images. EfxINNOs will develop a consistent and unified approach for the delineation, protection and restoration of the Black Sea ecosystems, assessing their ecological significance and prioritizing potential Marine Protected Areas. EfxINNOs results, images and videos will be widely communicated, raising public awareness on the abundance of marine litter at sea bottom, the impact of bottom trawling, man-made pollution and other activities affecting the seabed like shipping, submarine cables, wind turbines, etc. Educational material will be produced to inform people on the significance of coastal marine biodiversity protection. The network will produce science-based policy recommendations and tools serving the requirements of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea. Moreover, 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 The EfxINNOs network will be created and operated by a solid transnational Partnership with a long track record in developing and enhancing knowledge about the Ocean and innovation capacity in the Blue Economy sector all across the Black Sea Basin. The EfxINNOs partnership is composed of the Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (Bulgaria), the National Institute for Marine Research and Development (Romania), Ilia State University (Georgia), Istanbul University (Türkiye), the Technical University of Varna (Bulgaria) and is led by Democritus University of Thrace (Greece). This partnership will form a network that will outlive the project and enable leveraging and replicating its solutions. That is to enable local communities with the support of top-notch experts and advanced marine monitoring instrumentation to map and protect key benthic ecosystems, designate the areas in which human activities should occur, minimize conflicts among stakeholders, maximize benefits that people may receive from the sea, and help maintain healthy marine habitats.

Expected Achievements (EN):

EfxINNOs will develop and operate a novel, cost-effective, technologically-advanced, sustainable network of monitoring platforms, improving and expanding existing research infrastructures, serving the joint monitoring requirements of EU Policy Instruments and the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring Assessment Program (BSIMAP), linking the Black Sea and the North Aegean Sea. EfxINNOs will advance our current knowledge on marine ecosystems functioning, as well as on the impact of human stressors from land-based and maritime activities and is expected to fill the gaps in data collection, data harmonization and policy implementation among the BSB and the Med. The project will develop a consistent approach for the protection and restoration of the Black Sea ecosystems and underwater natural and cultural heritage. EfxINNOs will produce science-based policy tools to serve the directions set by the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.

Project outputs: Marine Environmental Monitoring Netework (EN)
Joint Public Events(EN)
EfxINNOs Project Partnership Joint Events (EN)
Harmonised Data collection and processing methods & Common methods for delineating marine natural assets and assessing human impacts
(EN)
microAUV, ROV and surface buoy databases containing raw and processed data(EN)
ML and AI tools and algorithms(EN)

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P1) Blue and Smart Region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 029 Research and innovation processes, technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research centres and universities, focusing on the low carbon economy, resilience and adaptation to climate change

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Δημοκρίτειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θράκης-Πολυτεχνική Σχολή-Ειδικός Λογαριασμός Κονδυλίων Έρευνας

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999659109

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 999975749

Department: Department of Environmental Engineering

Address: University Campus , 69100 Komotini, Greece

Department address: Vasilissis Sofias , 67132 Xanthi, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://env.duth.gr/en/home/

Total budget: EUR 470 521.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 423 469.62

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 47 052.18

Технически университет - Варна

Name: Технически университет - Варна

Department: Faculty of Computer Science and Automation

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999875516

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 000083626

Address: Studentska , 9010 Varna, Bulgaria

Department address: Studentska , 9010 Varna, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tu-varna.bg

Total budget: EUR 261 165.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 235 049.04

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 116.56

İstanbul Üniversitesi

Name: İstanbul Üniversitesi

Department: Faculty of Aquatic Sciences/Department of Marine and Freshwater Resources Management

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998391222

Partner’s ID if not PIC: TR4810041495

Address: İstanbul Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü , 34452 Beyazıt/Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Department address: Kalenderhane Mahallesi, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad., 34134 Vezneciler Fatih İstanbul , Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/en/_

Total budget: EUR 245 115.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 220 604.04

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 511.56

Contractors:

Name: HİDROPAR SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 46203852521
Name: Marimeks Ltd Şti
VAT registration or tax identification number: 6120053893

ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

Name: ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

Department: Faculty of Natural Sciences And Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry Direction

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999612937

Partner’s ID if not PIC: GE 204861970

Address: kakutsa Cholokashvili str, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Department address: kakutsa Cholokashvili str, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://iliauni.edu.ge/en/

Total budget: EUR 233 046.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 209 741.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 304.60

Contractors:

Name: My Mobile+ Ltd
VAT registration or tax identification number: 205294705

Institutl National de Cercetare Dezvoltare Marina "Grigore Antipa” (INCDM)

Name: Institutl National de Cercetare Dezvoltare Marina "Grigore Antipa” (INCDM)

Department: Depertment of Physical Oceanography and Coastal Engineering

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998572903

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 1869096

Address: Mamaia Blvd., 900581 Constanta , Romania

Department address: Mamaia Blvd., 900581 Constanta , Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.rmri.ro/Home/Home.html

Total budget: EUR 284 855.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 256 369.86

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 28 485.54

Contractors:

Name: HEIDELBERG-GRAF SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 13468802
Name: ICAR TOUR CONSTANTA SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 11208946

Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities

Name: Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities

Department: Project Management

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 969558457

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 103133943

Address: Preslav str., 9004 Varna, Bulgaria

Department address: Preslav str., 9004 Varna, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.ubbsla.org

Total budget: EUR 148 944.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 134 049.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 90.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 894.40

Contractors:

Name: Real Consult DZZD
VAT registration or tax identification number: 148039626
Name: VIPLAM Ltd.
VAT registration or tax identification number: BG204248810

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Establishing and Operating an Innovative Marine Technology Transfer Network for Enhancing the Transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea Basin

Project acronym: EfxINNOs

Project ID: BSB00193

Project start date: 2024-08-29

Project end date: 2027-02-27

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

PONTOS – Copernicus assisted environmental monitoring across the Black Sea Basin (BSB JOP 2014-2020) (EN) | Enter text [recommended max 20500 characters]
PONTOS project involved two key partners of EfxINNOs, DUTH and ISU team. EfxINNOs complements PONTOS project outputs in which eutrophication was assessed based on Sentinel 2 satellite data. Sentinel 2 satellite data will be validated utilizing the on-site measurements of surface chlorophyll-a and turbidity performed by the buoy installed in Georgia. Eutrophication and turbidity limit sunlight penetration and affect the health of benthic ecosystems. Therefore, EfxINNOs will utilize the already established infrastructure for satellite monitoring over the Black Sea to link the health of benthic ecosystems with the eutrophication occurrence at the selected sites. Moreover, PONTOS organized data in datacubes, a technique to be implemented also in EfxINNOs to harmonize and standardize the collected data, making them easily transferable among partners and other stakeholders.
(EN), HERMES – A HarmonizEd fRamework to Mitigate coastal EroSion by promoting ICZM protocol implementation (Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020) (EN) | HERMES project involved UBBSLA and DUTH and deployed on-line buoys measuring currents and waves at selected nearshore locations. This HERMES network of sensors will be utilized and expanded by the sensors (microAUVs, ROVs and buoys) to be deployed in EfxINNOs. The environmental conditions of benthic seagrass habitats will be recorded by the HERMES sensors, assessing the impact of wave-induced turbidity on these ecosystems. (EN), ODYSSEA – OPERATING A NETWORK OF INTEGRATED OBSERVATORY SYSTEMS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Horizon 2020) (EN) | Two key partners of EfxINNOs participated in ODYSSEA: DUTH and IU. The ODYSSEA project developed a network of Mediterranean observatories to monitor, model and assess environmental and metocean conditions and develop Blue Growth services for the diverse end-users and stakeholders of each pilot area. The approach to contact stakeholders and discuss their data needs will also be followed in EfxINNOs. Moreover, similar to ODYSSEA capacity building actions will be designed in EfxINNOs to educate young scientists and train entrepreneurs on Blue Growth actions. (EN), Iliad- INTEGRATED DigitaL Framework FOR Comprehensive MARITIME DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICES (Horizon 2020) (EN) | ILIAD project attempts to develop Digital Twins for marine and maritime activities. DUTH, NIMRD and TUV are key partner of ILIAD project, responsible for developing a Digital Twin for the Thracian Sea. The project will produce expertise and infrastructure on DT development. One of ILIAD DT refers to benthic biodiversity and the real-time monitoring of seagrass habitat with submarine cameras, low-cost sensors, etc. producing data assimilated in numerical models and algorithms. EfxINNOs will capitalize on the knowledge and infrastructure developed by ILIAD and will exchange ideas, tools and data with the ILIAD marketplace. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 643 648.40

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 479 283.56

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 90.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion EfxINNOs is an action that will contribute significantly to EUSAIR, in particular to Pillar 1 – Blue Growth which is linked to chapter 13 (fisheries) and chapter 25 (science and research) of the acquis communautaire and to the objectives of the European Green Deal.
EfxINNOs will build a Marine Technology Transfer Network that will enhance innovation capacity in the Blue Economy sector at local scale all across the Black Sea Basin which matches with the priority given by the EUSAIR to actions in the sectors of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as in the blue technologies as building blocks for the Smart Specialisation Strategies developed at regional and national level.
To create and leverage synergies with EUSAIR, the EfxINNOs project will reach out to ongoing and completed projects to share knowledge and exchange experiences in developing and promoting innovative solutions that can support the sustainable valorisation of natural and cultural assets in the marine environment.
The EfxINNOs partnership will undertake this effort from the start of the implementation by inviting key players of ADRION funded projects to the Joint Open Workshop that will take place back-to-back with the Kick-off Meeting.
The effort will be pursued throughout the duration of the project with the focus being on promoting Best Practices for harnessing Blue Growth and responsible governance in Maritime affairs with the involvement of local communities and the use of advanced technologies for environmental monitoring.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion EfxINNOs will clearly contributes to the Priority Areas 4 and 6, on raising broad public awareness and political commitment towards ecosystems and biodiversity, the identification of biodiversity hotspots, the common setting of conservation objectives, identifying priority sites for restoration. EfxINNOs is expected to close the existing knowledge gaps on monitoring pollutants (like chlorophyll-a, turbidity) in the surface waters, to link pollution levels with benthic biota health, and strengthen horizontal knowledge transfer and access to environmental data between national authorities responsible for nature conservation. The data collected in EfxINNOs is expected to aid the drafting of the Danube Masterplan for the Conservation and Restoration of Biodiversity Values, especially on the identification of biodiversity hotspots, the common setting of conservation objectives, and the identification of priority sites for restoration at the NW shelf BSB sites, operated by NIMRD, TUV and UBBSLA. EfxINNOs will contribute to the fulfilment of the policy objective 1 for “a smarter Europe” and will strengthen regional cooperation and exchange among network partners, engaging stakeholders in project dissemination activities and events.
SeaBasinStrategyBlackSea
EfxINNOs develops a transnational mechanism to assess benthic ecosystem status using advanced sensory and AI technologies, filling at large the data gaps identified in the CMA. More specifically, the creation of new knowledge, the protection of benthic habitats, the delineation of MPAs, the awareness on human impacts and the support to sustainable Blue Economy are the main objectives of Priority 1 entitled “Ensure the protection and sustainability of the marine ecosystem” of the Common Maritime Agenda. In EfxINNOs the monitoring and assessment of seabed habitats will follow a consistent, cost-effective and sustainable approach producing new data, never measured earlier, novel methodologies and solutions. Vulnerable and sensitive benthic ecosystems will be prioritized based on their ecological value and their threat from human impact, and the delineation of a Marine Protected Area will be proposed, in accordance to goal 1 of the CMA on “Healthy Marine and Coastal Ecosystems”. In parallel, the use of AUVs and ROV will provide images of videos of sea bottom, indicating the occurrence of marine litter, mostly plastic, serving further priority 2 to “Address marine pollution and plastic litter”. These images and videos will be used to produce communication and educational material and raise public awareness on marine litter pollution and its impacts on benthic ecosystems. Finally, EfxINNOs supports Priority 4 of the CMA on the “Development of innovative marine research infrastructures in the Black Sea”, introducing smart observation systems. Harmonized data and expertise will be shared among partners, in accordance to Priority 5 on the “production, management and sharing of marine and coastal environmental knowledge”.
Other The Marine Strategy Framework Directive MSFD requires EU Member States(MS) to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for the marine environment by 2020. The MSFD defines GES as "the state of the environment in marine waters where they provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas that are clean, healthy and productive, using the marine environment to an extent that is sustainable, thereby maintaining the potential for uses and activities by present and future generations". To assist MS in defining the MSFD and establishing environmental targets, the Commission published Decision 2010/477/EC on criteria and methodological standards for GES of marine waters, including 11 descriptors composed of biological and physico-chemical indicators, pressure, status and impact indicators - including hazardous substances, hydrological alterations, waste and noise, and biological disturbance. Draft amendments to Decision 2010/477/EC as well as to Annex III of the MSFD were approved on 10 November 2016.
Achieving the MSFD is the responsibility of each MS as there are specific issues and challenges that can only be addressed at national level. The Directive explicitly requires the state of the marine environment to be determined at the level of the marine region (or sub-region), which requires cooperation within the EU and with third countries. MS should establish regionally coordinated monitoring programs, in accordance with Article 5(2) of the MSFD, to ensure periodic assessment of the state of the marine environment and assessment of progress towards the achievement of the MSFD.
EfxINNOs will assist all Black Sea EU partners to smoothly implement the MSFD and will introduce novel and cost-effective methods and techniques to assess the marine environmental state, especially descriptors 6, 10 and 1. It will also assist the implementation of the Marine Spatial Planning, organizing better maritime and marine activities and protecting vulnerable benthic ecosystems.
Other The EfxINNOs project is very closely linked to the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) which seeks to guide stakeholders from academia, funding agencies, industry, policy, and society to address together the fundamental Black Sea challenges, to promote the blue economy and its prosperities of the Black Sea region, to build critical support systems and innovative research infrastructure and to improve education and capacity building. Itwill make a strong contribution to Pillar “Black Sea Blue Economy: Developing products, solutions and clusters underpinning Black Sea Blue Growth” and particularly to Main Goal 1 which aims to support marine and maritime research and innovation domains of all the Black Sea countries to create synergy, increase economic benefits, reduce hazards in service of prospering, resilient and empowered communities deriving interest from the Black Sea basin. The EfxINNOs project will contribute to the implementation of the key short and medium term actions of the SRIA, as it will
a) Promote and foster synergies, through networking events and meetings towards capacity development to transfer knowledge
b) Define geological features located near shore and offshore, their evolution through time and support the business uptake of innovative technologies to boost growth by avoiding potential geo-hazards
c) Support the dialogue across disciplines, activity sectors and borders in order to promote and uptake of innovative, reliable and cost-effective solutions to marine environment monitoring as booster for sustainable blue growth
d) Pave the way for a systemic approach focusing on coastal communities interacting with the marine ecosystem to understand how drivers of marine environment and human induced pressures impact the communities and
e) Support and promote methodologies for science-based policymaking.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 007 - Research organisations participating in joint research projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 115 - Public events across borders jointly organised, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-03-26

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

32 / 32 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

148 / 148 (100%)

Notes on the data

Programme's page last visited on 2025-03-17.

Languages

Contact Form

Establishing and Operating an Innovative Marine Technology Transfer Network for Enhancing the Transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea Basin

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer