The BRIDGE-BS Consortium gathered for its 3rd General Assembly at Tbilisi State University in Georgia from September 18-20, 2024. This significant event brought together BRIDGE-BS experts to discuss the progress and future direction of the project, aimed at fostering sustainable development in the Black Sea region.

The Assembly opened with a presentation by BRIDGE-BS Coordinator, Barış Salihoğlu, who provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s achievements and roadmap. He emphasized the long-term impact of BRIDGE-BS in enhancing collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices in the region.

In his welcoming address, Vice-Rector of Tbilisi State University, Erekle Astakhishvili, highlighted the importance of BRIDGE-BS as a Horizon 2020 project, underlining its role in advancing marine research, supporting a sustainable blue economy, and engaging citizens across the Black Sea region.

Day two featured dynamic presentations from the project’s Work Package leads and co-leads, who shared key advancements in areas such as marine ecosystem dynamics and blue economy incubators. These sessions also sparked discussions on how to better interconnect various project components and foster collaboration with other related initiatives.

The day concluded with workshops focusing on topics ranging from scenario development to the establishment of a Blue Economy Observatory, providing a platform for valuable insights and collaborative solutions.

The final day of the Assembly began with presentations on data sharing, the development of a knowledge base portal, and progress on the BRIDGE-BS Digital Twin Ocean Demonstrator. Discussions continued with updates on scientific cruises, long-term monitoring, and smart observation technologies aimed at exploring the Black Sea’s unknowns.

Additionally, the European Marine Board led discussions on the development of a Policy Brief, addressing the critical need to effectively communicate the consortium’s scientific findings and recommendations to policymakers, with the goal of fostering a healthier and more resilient Black Sea ecosystem.

The 3rd General Assembly was wrapped with the Steering Committee Meeting, which laid out the next steps for the project, building on the discussions and ideas generated over the three days.