The proposal for additional activities for the European Partnership for a climate neutral, sustainable and productive Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) responds to the Horizon Europe (HE) call HORIZON-CL6-2024-GOVERNANCE-01-1. Building on the work for enhancing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA, updated version publication foreseen in spring 2024), 74 partners (+14 compared to the existing GA) from 29 (+4 compared to the existing GA) countries among Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and Third Countries (TC), with the support of the EC will continue implementing the R&I programme together with comprehensive management activities to support the transformation of the blue economy, enhancing impact and building capacities as well as further structuring the ERA. In continuation with the existing Grant Agreement (GA), in its 2nd cycle, corresponding to the second instalment of the HE Work Programme, the Partnership will contribute to the Expected Outcomes of the topic HORIZON-CL6-2024-GOVERNANCE-01-02 by implementing two joint co-funded calls (in cash) together with a set of additional activities demonstrating European added valued to be carried out by deploying other type of assets. These entail: alignment of national thematic annual programming, alignment of monitoring programmes and sharing of research infrastructures through an open call for transnational access. As far as regards coordination and management activities, beside enhancing some existing tasks towards an increased impact, three new key tasks are foreseen on developing: (i) the Implementation Plan, (ii) thematic/regional portfolios (i.e. clusters) of projects supported through different HE calls as well as different programmes, (iii) future additional activities, e.g. on a European Ocean Observing System Knowledge Hub or an Early career PhDs network. In terms of priority areas, the new one on 'resilient coastal communities and businesses' adds to the four existing ones.

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) aims to design, steer and support a just and inclusive transition to a regenerative, resilient and sustainable blue economy, boosting the transformation needed towards a climate-neutral, sustainable, productive and competitive EU by 2030. The SBEP will deliver solutions to strengthen EU and international science-policy interfaces in marine- and maritime-related domains of the EU Green Deal and Digital Europe strategies through aligning national, regional and EU R&I priorities bringing together science, industry, policy and society. It will also contribute to accelerate the post-pandemic recovery and resilience. In line with the EC new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU, the SBEP rolls-out impact pathways to: catalyse the transformation of ocean economy value chains; deliver ocean knowledge and impact-driven R&I solutions; cooperate to respond to international, EU and national regulations, recommendations and policy strategies; contribute to the social and digital transition by developing innovative governance frameworks that benefit coastal communities, including by reinforcing skills and enhance ocean observation capacity contributing to EOOS and GEOSS. Together with the EC, 59 partners from 25 countries (MS and AC) in the first phase that raised to 75 partners from 30 countries (MS, AC and TC) in the seoncd phase, will join an unprecedent effort to pool R&I investments, aligning programmes at pan-European scale. The ambition is to launch 6 co-funded calls and implement relevant additional activities such as thematic annual programming, alignemnt of monitoring programmes, sharing of research infrastructures and developing portfolios of projects, over a seven-year timeframe to support R&I joint programming on thematic priority areas of interventions stemming from a co-designed SRIA. The SBEP will also identify additional mechanisms for alignment and look for further economic support of R&I programs leveraging other funding and finance streams. In parallel, a long-term structuring ambition will support the creation of a community of practice, fostering co-creation, coordinating all relevant initiatives at sea-basins/Atlantic ocean level and further promoting the EU blue economy at global level.

DOORS will bring the four pillars of the SRIA into reality, turning the challenges into opportunities for a highly valued Black Sea. It will harmonise research and provide the infrastructure to better understand the Black Sea, particular ecosystem characteristics, develop the framework to support Blue Growth and early development of start-ups, and provide evidence to inform policy and behavioural change. To reach its ambitious objectives, the project team will work closely with stakeholders from the start to develop an open research system and establish a framework to support continuous stakeholder dialogue. DOORS will implement three Work Programmes: a System of Systems to harmonise approaches and provide an accessible data repository, a Blue Growth Accelerator to support enterprise, and Knowledge Transfer and Training to share best practice and build capacity. These will: • Engage stakeholders through communication, dissemination and training activities to raise awareness, build capacity and foster a stronger Black Sea identity • Harmonise data collation, analysis and access to optimise data use in decision and policy making • Strengthen the Black Sea scientific network through new collaborations, and bridge the gap between science and policy • Provide a range of products to support Black Sea innovation and enterprise DOORS will have long-lasting impact by giving stakeholders in the region the skillsets and understanding to: • Implement key policies and legislation • Improve environmental quality and reduce pollution risk • Design measures to mitigate pollution and remediate historically contaminated areas • Become resilient communities • Realise and sustainably develop potential economic growth for future well-being • Build capacity in existing industries, develop new start-ups and become actively involved in delivering Blue Growth • Create ocean informed citizens to better understand Black Sea’s potential

"The importance of the project implementation:In general the situation in all partner countries is generally similar – the student self-governments generally limited their work to various events organizing for involvement, entertainment and bringing students together. Student self-governments are underused as the potential of intellectual resource. Young people are not informed and do not participate in the problem solving and decision-making connected with life of educational institution. Not all schools or educational institutions are interested in the development of student self-government, considering that it is extra work.In general, the risk of early school leaving will increase in all EU countries. The project offer the solutions to the problem. Student self-governments, increasing the efficiency of their work, will improve work with young people from groups of social risk and reduce the risk of early school leaving.Project objectives: to improve and intensify the work of student self-governments with young people, thus increasing the capacity and work efficiency of student self-governments and reducing the risk of early school leaving.Profile and number of participants: * 78 young people were involved and trained during mobilities. There had been planned to involve 98 young people but some young people participated in the mobilities several times therefore the number of people and mobilities does not match.* approximately 300 young people took part in activities planned by partner organizations * 29 teachers were involved in the mobilities. There had been planned that 48 teachers take part in mobilities but some teachers participated in mobilities several times. There was a requirement that the project coordinator participates in all visits so the number of people does not match with number of mobilities.*7 partner organizations (Bulgaria (a higher educational institution), Macedonia (NGO), Hungary (NGO), Romania (vocational educational institution), Turkey (educational institution), Portugal (professional educational institution), Latvia - coordinator (the general educational institution) participated in the project.The project activities were planned and implemented in two ways:Direction 1 - Training actions within mobility during which representatives of student self-governments and teachers, have acquired in-depth knowledge, skills and competences in a certain field.The methods have been used: ""ice-breaking"" activities, discussions, role-plays, tests for self-studying, interviews with representatives of various professions, visiting social institutions, excursions to companies, local and state government and manufacturing companies, charity campaigns, organization of various events, writing scripts and conducting events, making videos, activities of group formation and consolidation, organization of events, workshops, training, etc. All planned methods have been implemented as it had been planned and written in the application of the project.2nd direction - the activities held by the young people of the partner organizations, who had been trained within mobilities, in their institutions. The acquired knowledge / skills / abilities have been used to acquaint young people of their institutions with knowledge gained during mobilities.Description of the project results * 208 detailed handouts were created* The presentations include descriptions of situation in different countries, statistical data, theoretical guidelines and conclusions; all interested have access to these materials * Young people who have been trained during mobilities continue working in their own schools and institutions, informing other young people about the project results and involving them into activities; the total number - more than 1000 young people from all partner organizations Effects * It was planned that around 50% of young people from groups of social risk will be motivated to continue learning and to acquire the selected educational or another programs in all the partner organizations due to project activities. At poll of the partner organizations we have come to a conclusion that it is difficult to define whether young people are motivated to continue study, thanks to activities of the project as it is a difficult question. But all coordinators and the involved teachers have recognized that the interest of young people has increased, some young people have begun to show interest in requirements which have to be executed to have an opportunity to participate in foreign mobilities, to get acquainted with the culture of other countries, to learn something new.* After the project results are in open access and available for public, the staff of other educational and social institutions, members of student self-governments and young people will be interested in the project experience learning and its practical application in their own institutions – many representatives of various schools and institutions individually were interested in opportunities of the use of the project materials; many also were interested in possible contacts with partners of the project* Young people from groups of social risk have been encouraged to participate in activities that are organized by various educational institutions and NGOs.Long-term benefits *Young people will be motivated to continue or resume the formal education or also to increase motivation for education and development of career."