EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” - Mediterranean Lighthouse
MEDCONNECT: connecting blue innovators, scaling solutions across the Mediterranean
MEDCONNECT is a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action supporting the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” in the Mediterranean Sea basin. Over three years, it brings together policymakers, solution providers, researchers, ports, investors, communities and citizens to move the most promising solutions from pilot to deployment.
A sea under pressure, a region ready to act
The Mediterranean faces increasing pressures: climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and growing pressure on coastal ecosystems.
Yet it also holds the assets to act at scale: world-class knowledge and research, dynamic innovation ecosystems, ports, cities and industries able to transform their practices, and sea communities deeply connected to the sea.
MEDCONNECT leads the deployment and scaling of solutions for a healthier, more resilient and more competitive Mediterranean Sea basin.
MEDCONNECT combines social, digital, technical and financial enablers.
Our objectives toward 2028:
Governance and training sustain uptake of innovative solutions over time, the digital portal makes progress visible, and living labs and investment routes carry solutions into deployment.
1. Inclusive governance
A multi-level governance linking 3 Regional Living Labs and 14 National Hubs with local projects, and with the wider Mission Ocean ecosystem.
2. Knowledge transfer
Innovation requires stakeholders adoption. Capacity building and behavioural change make this adoption practical and socially grounded: 300 innovators, 300 citizens and practitioners trained, 100 young people mobilised through the Youth Ambassadors programme, and 90 offtakers equipped.
3. Digital monitoring
The MEDCONNECT Digital Portal will turn EU data sources, monitoring and citizen science into usable intelligence: dashboards, opportunity maps and decision tools. It creates a common view across hubs while shedding light on local specificities.
4. Regional Living Lab Systems
Three Regional Living Lab Systems test and demonstrate in real conditions 15 solutions selected from more than 100 mapped.
5. Investment mobilisation
The bridge between proof of concept and lasting impact: investor sprints, public investment dialogues and a Mediterranean R&I investment strategy. Objective: to leverage at least €5m in Mediterranean investment action plans.
“The Mediterranean does not need more isolated pilots. It needs a connected route to uptake, finance and replication.”
Three regional living lab schemes to connect the Mediterranean ecosystem
MEDCONNECT brings together the whole of society: universities, industry, economic stakeholders, public authorities, investors, civil society and citizens.
To ensure geographical coherence across the basin, 14 national hubs and 3 regional hubs will be established to foster local ownership of solutions, in pursuit of a shared vision.
Three years to scale up and ensure healthier ecosystems, less pollution and a circular blue economy
Year 1 : Mapping and connecting. Mapping and connecting. Creating hubs, mapping solutions, identifying needs and laying the digital and governance foundations.
Year 2: Demonstrate and equip. Conduct demonstrations in living labs, train users, engage communities and refine deployment pathways.
Year 3: Fund and scale up. Connect solutions with buyers and investors, strengthen public procurement and consolidate the legacy strategy.
Coordinated by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), MEDCONNECT brings together research institutes, universities, innovation and finance actors, ports, foundations and civil society organisations from both shores of the Mediterranean.
Waves of Change is one of the 20 partners of the MEDCONNECT consortium. We bring our One Health approach, linking the health of marine ecosystems with that of coastal populations, and contribute to (to be specified: integrated monitoring, stakeholder engagement, Western living lab…). A way to extend, across the Mediterranean, our commitment to healthy and resilient coastlines.
More information
Project website: medconnect-lighthouse.eu
Contact: lisa@wavesofchange.earth
Funded by the European Union
