The Mission Forum 2025, held as part of the European Ocean Days, gathered policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to assess the progress of the Mission „Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030“ and chart the course for future action. The event provided a platform for sharing insights, presenting achievements, and fostering collaboration among Mission projects and initiatives.

Highlighting Mission Progress and Achievements

The Forum opened with high-level speeches, including remarks from European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, who emphasized the importance of a robust monitoring system to effectively measure progress. She stressed the need to strengthen methodologies for tracking impact across Mission-funded projects to ensure meaningful advancements towards the overarching goals.

The first panel session focused on the progress and key achievements of the Mission, where Nadja Schlichenmaier from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (SEZ), coordinator of EcoDaLLi, highlighted not only the project’s contributions but also the broader progress of the Danube & Black Sea Lighthouse in supporting the Mission’s objectives. The presentation addressed advancements in governance frameworks, research and innovation, and stakeholder engagement, illustrating how the Lighthouse approach fosters cross-regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Following this discussion, the next panel addressed the topic of protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, featuring insights from DALIA Danube Lighthouse. The session examined ongoing restoration initiatives, the role of nature-based solutions (NBS), and strategies for improving ecosystem resilience in response to environmental pressures.

A Dedicated Exhibition Showcasing Mission Impact

In parallel to the discussions, the Mission Forum exhibition area allowed participants to explore tangible results from various projects. The Danube & Black Sea Lighthouse was represented at a joint booth, providing visitors with an overview of ongoing initiatives and innovative approaches in the region.

The booth, coordinated by EcoDaLLi, featured on-site materials, including:

• A plastic upcycling exhibit, demonstrating circular economy approaches for reducing pollution.
• A sediment monitoring tower, where visitors could experiment with sediment samples to understand grain size estimation methods.
• Replicas of the REXDAN research vessel, showcasing one of the most advanced research vessels in Europe, central to the SUNDANSE project.
• A children’s book titled “Lau Laughs Again”, which introduces young readers to the ecosystems of the Danube River and fosters environmental awareness.

In addition, a digital exhibition provided interactive access to project resources, including videos and key findings from the Lighthouse projects. EcoDaLLi presented its roadmap as outcome of the four Living Lab events in 2024. It also featured an interactive puzzle game about the Danube River and its countries, designed to engage visitors in learning more about the region’s biodiversity and cultural significance.

EcoDaLLi, as Coordination and Support Action (CSA) of the Danube & Black Sea Lighthouse, brought together all Innovation Actions (IAs) of the Lighthouse, such as:

• DANUBE4all: Focused on sustainable Danube River management.
• DALIA Danube Lighthouse: Driving innovation for a thriving Danube ecosystem.
• DaWetRest: Dedicated to Danube wetlands restoration.
• Restore4Life: Revitalizing aquatic ecosystems for a sustainable future.
• SUNDANSE: Dedicated to developing  sustainable sediment management solutions related to the Danube – Black sea system.
• iNNO SED: Addressing sediment management challenges in the Danube.
• DANSER: Promoting sustainable navigation and ecosystem services.

Find more information about the Lighthouse here.

Cross-Lighthouse Collaboration and Thematic Workshops

Throughout the week, several key workshops complemented the discussions at the Mission Forum.

The week started on Monday, 3 March 2025 with two essential workshops, both aimed at strengthening the enabling conditions for Mission projects:

• Harmonizing KPIs and Approaches: This workshop focused on the development of a joint Mission Ocean and Waters monitoring framework, ensuring that data collection, reporting, and evaluation methods across Mission projects are aligned. Representatives from different Lighthouses discussed ways to improve comparability, scalability, and impact tracking, which will be essential for measuring long-term success.
• Support an Enabling Environment: This session explored the business models, regulatory frameworks, and financial ecosystems that can support the scaling up of sustainable blue initiatives. Discussions covered the role of private investment, public funding mechanisms, and policy instruments in accelerating progress towards the Mission’s goals.

On Wednesday, the „Exploring Wavelengths“ workshop examined collaborative approaches for strengthening water resilience, with a focus on multi-stakeholder engagement. This session emphasized the need for integrated water governance, leveraging digital tools, and nature-based solutions to address climate-related challenges in aquatic ecosystems.

On Thursday, 6 March 2025, the workshop on “Transferring Knowledge & Innovation to Decision-Making” took place, organized by EcoDaLLi partner ACTeon environment. The session focused on strategies to bridge the gap between research and policy, ensuring that scientific advancements are effectively integrated into decision-making processes. As part of the workshop, Nadja Schlichenmaier from SEZ presented an overview of innovative solutions in the Danube Region, categorizing approaches into technological, financial, governance, and social innovations. She also discussed the enabling environment for implementation, addressing regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, and stakeholder engagement mechanisms.

On Friday, 7 March 2025, the week concluded with the Cross-Lighthouse Synergies workshop, which attracted a strong attendance of 50 participants – a significant number given the intensive schedule of the European Ocean Days. The discussion underscored the importance of scaling up collaboration across the four Lighthouses of the Mission. EcoDaLLi’s presentation focused on:

• Building bridges between projects and stakeholders to enhance knowledge transfer.
• A systemic approach for nature-based solutions (NBS) in river and coastal restoration.
• Fostering a strong innovation ecosystem within the Danube & Black Sea region.
• Enabling cross-fertilization of ideas and best practices to maximize impact.

A key moment of the workshop was the presentation of a legacy document, jointly prepared by all Mission Ocean Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs). This document outlines strategic recommendations and future priorities for ensuring the long-term success of Mission projects beyond their current funding period.

Looking Ahead

The Mission Forum 2025 reinforced the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking in achieving the objectives of the Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters. The discussions and workshops highlighted both progress and challenges, setting the stage for the next phase of implementation.

The strong presence of the Danube & Black Sea Lighthouse throughout the week showcased the region’s commitment to sustainable water management, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience. Moving forward, the Lighthouse will continue to foster cooperation between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to drive impactful solutions for Europe’s waters.