Xanthi, 10 July 2026 – Following EfxINNOs’ selection for the prestigious BLUECO TAP (Thematic Annual Programming) initiative, our team has officially moved from selection to active implementation. Running through February 2028 under the European Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), BLUECO TAP unites top-tier marine research projects across Europe to build resilience across coastal and marine socio-ecosystems.
The BLUECO TAP framework is designed to create added value from existing projects by bringing researchers together in a structured network. The initiative connects scientific knowledge, promotes mobility, and aligns regional research with European policy goals. By bringing together quadruple-helix stakeholders—researchers, policymakers, industry, and civil society—BLUECO TAP addresses climate-driven stressors and supports adaptive marine governance.
Led by the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) with Prof. Georgios Sylaios as its Coordinator, EfxINNOs brings critical Black Sea technological capabilities to the network’s core focus area:
Subsea Robotics & Sensing: Deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), ROVs, and monitoring platforms to assess ecosystem health.
AI & Digital Processing: Applying machine learning tools for Side Scan Sonar interpretation, habitat delineation, and benthic health mapping.
Regional Data Integration: Linking Black Sea monitoring outcomes into pan-European marine technology transfer networks.
EfxINNOs collaborates alongside five complementary European projects:
- MEDIATION (France – IFREMER) Robust digital twins of the ocean.
- FUTURE-OBS (France – Sorbonne University):Augmented coastal observatories.
- PROCOAST (Sweden – RISE):Probabilistic modeling for coastal flooding management.
- EDIPO (Italy – University of Messina):Genetic diversity and connectivity of *Posidonia oceanica
- TECNA-RPAS (Italy – NBFC): Drone photogrammetry and GIS modeling for coastal dune monitoring.
Building on the kick-off meeting during SBEP Week in Bucharest, the consortium has developed its initial Implementation Plan to guide joint working areas. Over the next two years, collaborative outputs will include joint policy recommendations for Marine Spatial Planning, high-impact scientific publications, technical mobility exchanges, and shared responses to future European research calls.
Stay tuned to our project website and social channels to download the official “Who is Who Brochure” and follow our upcoming joint BLUECO TAP events.
