Preparation for deployment of lighthouse demonstrators and solution scale ups and cross-cutting citizen and stakeholder involvement

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Enhanced preparation for an effective deployment of the mission research and innovation core in the Member States / Associated countries and communities: improved capacity to identify areas and solutions for effective ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ and improved capacity to identify solutions for scale ups, comparability and coherence of outcomes across Member States / Associated countries and effective and timely deployment and de-risking of scale ups to fully and timely achieve the mission objectives;
• Transformative and systemic portfolio approach to solutions addressing the challenges which the ocean, seas and waters are facing, fostering collective social responsibility and demonstrating implementation of ecosystem based management^[1];
• Increased awareness of stakeholders and citizens about the mission’s objectives, programmes and tools and about the possibilities for their contribution to the mission, as well as improved access of stakeholders (scientific community, businesses, local and regional communities, NGOs and others) to programmes and instruments supporting restoration, conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, seas and waters;
• Full and early uptake and support of the mission by the governments of the Member States and Associated countries, regional and local communities, scientific community, businesses and other stakeholders and citizens.

This action aims to prepare the implementation of Mission Ocean, Seas and Waters, with a particular focus on providing support for effective and timely deployment of the mission research and innovation core^[2] and for crosscutting citizen and stakeholder^[3] involvement during the identification, design and implementation of the mission.

The research and innovation core of the mission should aim at discovering and identifying novel solutions and innovations needed to address the societal challenges at the core of the mission and demonstrating through a network of ‘lighthouse demonstrators'^[4] their effectiveness and feasibility, for their future scale up and full deployment. The mission research and innovation core should be developed in line with and deliver on the Green Deal priorities and also contribute directly to the digital transition.

In close co-operation with the Mission Core Network ^[5], this action should prepare the ground for effective Mission deployment and for the identification, future scale-up and full deployment of these ‘lighthouse demonstrators’, including the following activities:

• Develop, test and pilot methodologies for:
  1. the identification and selection of place-based ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ (to test, pilot, demonstrate, upscale and de-risk solutions and innovations in specific, real conditions), building on existing European innovation assets and R&I infrastructure^[6].
  2. assessing the feasibility of the scale up of projects, actions or already ongoing initiatives, existing solutions or infrastructures focusing on ecosystem restoration and ecosystem based management, on zero pollution in marine and water ecosystems and on decarbonisation of Blue Economy sectors, including a systemic perspective and allowing for input of various types of expertise^[7] and promoting multi-actor and multidisciplinary approaches.
  3. preparing for the digital transformation and integrating the ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ with the European digital initiatives^[8].
  4. the development of inter-connected ‘lighthouse demonstrator’ networks allowing efficient exchanges of expertise and best practices and close cooperation to explore synergies, complementarities and solutions and innovations for deployment and scale up.
• Develop, test and pilot a set of methodologies for inclusion in lighthouse demonstrators and national mission hubs. These methodologies should be twofold. Firstly, they should enable the ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ and national mission hubs to achieve high quality and fit-for-purpose demonstration and ensure efficient preparation for scaling up of innovations from TRL 5, including digital solutions. Secondly, these methodologies should enable the co-creation and management of actions and projects with citizens and relevant stakeholders, based on co-creative working methods to ensure the highest degree of deployment of solutions and their fast and effective adoption by the beneficiaries. The action should also identify areas where use of such methodologies and approaches would be most effective in achieving tangible results.
• Develop and pilot a concept for an EU-wide network of citizens/stakeholder assemblies to bring all key actors together to ensure a successful implementation of the proposed mission. This would also require the necessary facilitators^[9] to ensure the most suitable delivery of bottom up participation and ownership. The action should develop a roll out plan for this network, including other resources needed to enable effective citizen and stakeholder involvement in ‘lighthouse demonstrators’, national mission hubs and other related activities of the mission resulting in tangible contributions from these actors to the mission. This concept should include trainings and qualification requirements for facilitators, as well as best practices on how to manage and resource this network.
• Map and facilitate synergies in the context of the below initiatives, by identifying opportunities for the creation of important R&I-related enabling conditions and skills in support of reaching the mission objectives:
  1. the skills agenda (ESF+) to create the needed capacities and skills;
  2. The ERASMUS+ programme;
  3. Horizon Europe instruments, including those of bottom-up nature like ERC, MSCA, EIT KICs, as well as its European partnerships and other missions;
  4. the European Innovation Fund,
  5. the Digital Europe Programme;
  6. the Space Programme; and
  7. other relevant EU, national and or regional programmes and instruments.
• Contribute to the mission outreach, dissemination and communication strategy and plan by providing visionary visual examples tailor made for various audiences of what a successful ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ could bring to communities in terms of public goods solutions (e.g. how would success look like in 10 years’ time, if those envisaged solutions would be successfully deployed).

The possible participation of the JRC in the project will consist of connecting to the regions and cities, which in their smart specialisation / urban development strategies are interested in the priority themes relevant for the mission. This includes how the deployment of ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ could be co-created with these regions and cities so they contribute not only to the mission goals as such, but also to the transition to innovation for a green economy and local jobs under a place-based approach.

Social Innovation
EOSC and FAIR data
Societal Engagement
Ocean sustainability and blue economy
Socio-economic science and humanities

[1]Ecosystem based management [defined in CBD (2000)] is a management and resource planning procedure that integrates the management of human activities and their institutions with the knowledge of the functioning of ecosystems” (“a resource planning and management approach that integrates the connections between land, air and water and all living things, including people, their activities and institutions” (cf., Farmer et al., 2012, for a review of the concept of ecosystem approach in marine management). EAM is the underlying principle for environmental management strategies as formulated in the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

[2]It is noted that the Mission objectives should go beyond the Mission research and innovation core element that consists of a network of lighthouse demonstrators and stakeholder and citizen engagement. For a full achievement of the Mission objectives an effective and timely scale up of the solutions and innovations from ‘lighthouse demonstrators’ would be needed with the involvement of many industrial, business and civil society partners and with large scale mobilisation of resources and actors throughout the European Union.

[3]Examples of relevant stakeholders include public administrations and utilities; private sector services and industries, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), scientific and innovator communities; financial intermediaries; civil society and philanthropy.

[4]‘Lighthouse demonstrators’ should be understood rather broadly as topical, area-based or other demonstrators that would have the capacity to substantially, effectively and timely contribute to the achievement of the Mission objectives in particular by discovering, identifying, testing, piloting, democratising and de-risking innovative solutions to the societal challenges that are within the scope of the Mission, with emphasis on systemic approach and ecosystem level solutions.

[5]As described by the Horizon Europe Missions Work Programme 2021 call: HORIZON-MISS-2021-COOR-01 - Coordination of complementary actions for missions (HORIZON-MISS-2021-COOR-01)

[6]Such as, Copernicus marine and climate change services, EMODNET, ESFRI research infrastructures, ERICs, H2020 projects.

[7]Such as, natural sciences, social sciences, landscape planning, commerce and industry, law and regulations and policy.

[8]Such as, Destination Earth (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/destination-earth-destine) (Digital Twins on extreme events, climate adaptation and ocean), EOSC and Green Dataspaces.

[9]Citizen assemblies are typically supported by a team of impartial facilitators who guide participants through the process.