On 25 November 2025, the Final Conference of the BRIDGE-BS project (Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation to Co-Develop Blue Growth within Resilient Ecosystems) was held in Brussels, Belgium. The project was carried out under the coordination of the Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences (METU IMS, Türkiye) with funding support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.
At the invitation of Dr. Baris Salihoglu, Director of METU IMS, Tetiana Druzhchenko, Head of the Foresight Sector of the Department for Economic Development and Financial Policy at the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, took part in the conference.
During the conference, the results of the multi-year initiative were summarised, focusing on advancing scientific knowledge of the Black Sea ecosystem, implementing modern monitoring systems, modelling climate change scenarios, and developing innovative approaches to support and strengthen sustainable marine ecosystems. Special attention was given to shaping evidence-based strategies and identifying practical steps aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainable development of the Blue Economy in the Black Sea region.
The event also featured the presentation of the policy brief titled “Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy”, which represents one of the key scientific outputs of the project.
The document is available at the following link:
For reference: BRIDGE-BS (Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation to Co-Develop Blue Growth within Resilient Ecosystems) is a 54-month, interdisciplinary research and innovation initiative (2021–2025), conducted by a consortium of 31 partners representing the Black Sea region, EU Member States, and international organisations. The project’s overarching goal is to deliver science-based analytical support for evidence-driven policymaking, promoting the safeguarding of Black Sea ecosystems and enabling the development of a sustainable, resilient, and competitive Blue Economy across the Black Sea region.
Further details are available on the project’s official website: bridgeblacksea.org
