Under the H2020 BRIDGE-BS project, the 3rd round of Living Labs (LLs) took place across designated pilot sites between April and May 2024. The 3rd Round aimed to co-develop transformative pathways toward a sustainable future, building on earlier efforts to identify shared challenges related to ecosystem services, stressors, and opportunities in the Black Sea Blue Economy.

Across all pilot sites, a total of 128 stakeholders contributed to identifying short-, mid-, and long-term actions for advancing the Blue Economy sectors such as fishery, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal tourism, and blue renewable energies. System innovation and sustainability transformation tools like the Future Radar, 3 Horizons Framework, and Seeds for the Anthropocene supported these efforts, enabling robust pathways capable of driving the blue sectors toward sustainability.

Key Highlights from the Living Labs:

Romanian Pilot Site (GeoEcoMar and NIMRD):
The first session brought together 27 stakeholders, including policymakers, local authorities, industry representatives, NGOs, academia, and researchers. Discussions focused on innovative strategies to achieve sustainable practices across fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and maritime transport sectors.

Bulgarian Pilot Site, Varna (IOBAS and IBERBAS):
Representatives from fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, and local administration (e.g., EAFA, BSBD) gathered to identify critical actions and co-design scenarios for the Black Sea’s future by 2050. Collaborative sessions highlighted innovative solutions for sustainable Blue Economy development.

Georgian Pilot Site, Batumi (Tbilisi State University):
In Batumi, 28 stakeholders from fisheries, marine transport, tourism, and environmental sectors discussed the region’s 2050 vision. The session emphasized fostering innovation and sustainability while evaluating potential impacts on the marine environment.

Bosphorus Pilot Site (IU DEBIEN, TÜBİTAK MAM, and TUDAV):
At the Bosphorus Pilot Site, 35 stakeholders collaborated to develop a holistic roadmap for regional cooperation. The discussions underscored the importance of innovative strategies and cross-sectoral partnerships to advance the Black Sea’s sustainable Blue Economy.

Sinop Pilot Site (Sinop University):
The final session of the 3rd round engaged 28 participants from the public, industry, NGOs, and academia in envisioning a comprehensive 2050 roadmap. The interactive format fostered collaboration to outline sustainable and innovative solutions for the Sinop Pilot Region.

The 3rd round of the BRIDGE-BS Living Labs exemplified the collaborative spirit and innovative approach necessary to realize the vision of a thriving and sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea region. With the insights gathered from these Living Labs, stakeholders will collaboratively refine strategies and implement actions to transform the Black Sea region into a hub of sustainable and innovative Blue Economy practices by 2050.