1. The BlueMed Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Kalliopi Pagou, HCMR
BlueMed CSA Coordinators’ Meeting
11-12 January 2018, Malta

2. The countries that signed the Venice Declaration/ (Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain, and Romania) launched the STRATEGIC MARINE AND MARITIME RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA FOR BLUE GROWTH IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION, decided to advance it, aiming in particular at:
• Promoting cooperation in research and innovation between all Mediterranean countries;
• Engaging with both public and private stakeholders, including small and medium enterprises, in research and innovation actions of cooperation;
• Supporting knowledge-based policy making;
• Prioritising the implementation of cross-cutting actions with high societal impact;
• Ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources and infrastructures by Member States cooperation and joint actions;
• Developing innovative sea-related competences, particularly at technical, doctoral and first stage researchers’ level.

3. BLUEMED identifies the following KEY CHALLENGES:
Key enabling knowledge for the Mediterranean
Key sectoral enablers in the Mediterranean
Enabling technology and capacity creation for the Mediterranean

4. Key enabling knowledge for the Mediterranean
Relevant knowledge gaps to be overcome
Mediterranean Sea ecosystems: services, resources, vulnerability and resilience to natural and anthropogenic pressures
B. Mediterranean Sea dynamics: developing services in the field of sustainable adaptation to climate change and plans for mitigation
C. Hazards and the protection of coastal areas in the Mediterranean

5. Key sectoral enablers in the Mediterranean
Specific subsections of the blue growth path
A. Innovative businesses based on marine bio-resources in the Mediterranean
B. Ecosystem-based management of Mediterranean aquaculture and fisheries
C. Sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean
D. Maritime clusters in the Mediterranean
E. Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean

6. Enabling technology and capacity creation for the Mediterranean
Innovative human potential and infrastructure required
A. Smart, greener maritime transport and facilities in the Mediterranean
B. Observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean
C. Multi-purpose offshore platforms in the Mediterranean
D. Marine and coastal cultural heritage in the Mediterranean: discovering, protecting and valuing

7. SRIA is a living document:
The STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA (SRIA) is a tool for addressing these 12 challenges.
It is designed to be a living document offering a handbook for interested implementing bodies
Notice, the BLUEMED initiative:
allows for different types of action to be taken at different levels, as regards geographical coverage, critical mass, joint funding, coordination of national/regional efforts or the use of EU instruments;
is designed to involve relevant players and stakeholders such as national ministries, regional authorities, international organisations, organisations that undertake research, research infrastructure, academia, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the general public;
SRIA is a living document:
Published and launched in Venice, October 2015
Updated in Sliema (Malta), April 2017.
Updates will be made regularly every year (a relevant survey carried on in 2017)
Authors: Members of the Strategic Board of the BLUEMED Initiative

8. The SRIA details the scope, level and duration of specific joint actions to be taken in order to achieve a particular goal falling within a key challenge.
SCOPE › Typology of activities, e.g. R&I initiative, knowledge transfer, technology transfer, policy initiatives, etc.
LEVEL › National, regional, EU, international (one or multiple)
DURATION › Short (less than 3 years), Medium (5-6 years), Long (10 years)

9. Short/medium

10. Short/medium

15. medium
long
medium
long
long

16. short

19. The BLUEMED CSA project aims at supporting the implementation of the BLUEMED Initiative
as a key policy reference for all actors of Blue Growth in the Mediterranean
by promoting the update and implementation of the BLUEMED SRIA,
converting its outputs into actions.
Four thematic transnational Platforms on
“Knowledge”,
“Economy”,
“Technology” and
“Policy”
were set-up in the initial phase of the BLUEMED CSA.

20. Platforms: the implementation tool
Four thematic transnational interconnected Platforms at Mediterranean level
Aim: to update the SRIA and determine its Implementation Plan (IP)
Allow cross-national communication & interplay among research, private sector, public administration & civil society
participation of stakeholders from different levels, regions, initiatives, etc
Constitute operative environments where national representatives interact to convey the messages form their sectors
safeguarding continuous dialogue and consultation with the stakeholders at national level
Fora to address the needs of both the BlueMed CSA partner countries and the Mediterranean as a whole
by promoting and supporting integrated efforts in the fields of science, technology, economy and policy

21. The platforms
Working together all key players, from different perspectives but under the same
scope will guarantee, the definition of viable solutions for the Mediterranean
ensuring sustainable economic growth,
upgrading the services of the marine environment,
exploring its resources & the cultural heritage in the most sustainable way
This blending of people will enable exploration of the opportunities for synergies
define the conditions of common sharing of targeted infrastructures
In the long run are expected to act as a transnational network and dynamic
observatories to monitor, update and make the SRIA tangible in the Mediterranean
Their success depends on the determined strong support and mandate of the
signatories to the Venice Declaration

22. The platforms
The expected key outcomes are all related to the update of the SRIA and its implementation plan (IP):
consolidate and update the SRIA
support prioritization of SRIA topics and actions
support discussion on joint implementation & network of research funders
address & provide inputs to the SRIA IP
Platforms are expected to have a significant effect on the development of a consistent, and coherent national policy of coastal and maritime activities
Provide suggestions for the relevant EU policies for the Mediterranean area

23. Platform Composition Permanent members: Platform coordinator
National pivots (one for each country)
Blue Med CSA partners’ representatives
Non-permanent members / observers (*)
Task Leaders / Interested CSA Partners
Experts/ Stakeholders
Members of the BLUEMED Advisory Board
(*) after invitation

24. The platforms (operation at national level)
At national level platforms
are represented by the BLUEMED community and national stakeholders
provide input, comment but also evaluate the Project’s results
Responsibility of each country to decide on the most appropriate
scheme for national level
National Mirror Platforms
Official or un-official discussion fora for the stakeholders
Existing or adapted thematic workshops

26. National Pivots
Key contributors to Platform operation as representatives of the different partner countries on the four specific platform themes
Acting as main interface between the Consortium and the stakeholders at national level
Their expertise mirror the four themes of the Platforms
Contribute to increasingly mobilize other relevant national stakeholders by collect and convey their message and bring back the feedbacks for SRIA updates

31. A survey was prepared and disseminated (deadline 15th November) to 9 Med countries participating to BLUEMED to review the list of challenges, goals and actions of the BLUEMED agenda and analyse the key barriers and bottlenecks
Received replies from 7 countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain)
Participated from 7 to 76
Questions asked:
Would you modify/remove any of the listed challenges and goals? If YES, please indicate which and provide a brief motivation
Besides those, are there new challenges/goals to suggest, considering their relevance for Blue Growth? Please describe briefly, possibly indicating associated Actions
Could you briefly summarize your view on which are the main barriers and bottlenecks to achieve those goals?
Why are the new/modified challenges relevant for the Mediterranean and/or of global relevance but particularly apt to be investigated in the Mediterranean?
DO YOU WANT TO REVISE THE ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH GOAL IN THE PRESENT VERSION OF THE SRIA?
Are there actions to add/modify/remove? Please describe shortly

32. Next steps
Finalisation of survey’s replies elaboration and country reports to be sent to platform coordinators by 15 January 2018
Participation to the 2nd platform meeting in Athens, 1-2 February 2018 where the country white papers will be discussed and the SRIA update

35. Thank you!