BlueMissionBANOS2030 to strengthen cooperation on solutions for water protection and restoration
The new BlueMissionBANOS2030 project will build on the results of BlueMissionBANOS and work closely with BlueActionBANOS to advance the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” in the Baltic and North Sea region. The Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LHEI) participates in both projects.
From 29 September to 1 October 2026, partners in projects funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme met in Berlin to discuss future cooperation and the launch of BlueMissionBANOS2030. LHEI was represented by Leading Researcher Anda Ikauniece for BlueMissionBANOS2030 and Director and Researcher Astra Labuce for BlueActionBANOS.
The programme included a guided visit to the Berlin Wall Memorial, giving project partners an opportunity to get to know one another and continue discussions in an informal setting. The visit also prompted reflections on overcoming borders and barriers and building connections between communities.
BlueMissionBANOS2030 will further develop the network established by its predecessor and draw on its results, including the regional roadmaps developed through Mission Arenas. The focus will be on supporting the wider uptake of existing solutions by connecting their developers with organisations that can implement them and potential funders.
The project will establish and strengthen 12 National Mission Hubs. These will bring together representatives from ministries, public agencies, funding organisations, businesses, research institutions and civil society to coordinate efforts in water protection and restoration. Their development will also draw on the contacts established through BlueActionBANOS and the experience gained from organising its funding calls.
The two projects will have complementary roles. BlueMissionBANOS2030 will strengthen cooperation, knowledge exchange and the sharing of solutions, while BlueActionBANOS will provide financial support and expert guidance to help put solutions into practice and expand their use.
Three international Mission Arenas will be among the main events of BlueMissionBANOS2030. They will feature workshops, pitching sessions, solution demonstrations and opportunities to find collaboration partners. These events build on those held under the previous project, including the Mission Arena in Riga in 2024. The next event, the fifth Mission Arena, is scheduled for 2–3 March 2027 in Antwerp, Belgium.
BlueMissionBANOS2030 runs from September 2026 to August 2029. Coordinated by SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth, it brings together 20 partners from 12 countries.
For more information, visit the BlueMissionBANOS2030 website and the BlueActionBANOS website.
