Insights
Stay up to date with the latest ERINN Innovation updates, including news from our projects and valuable insights into our work and impact.
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- ERINN News
November 10, 2025
Hopeful Energy at Ireland’s First Climate Carnival
ERINN Innovation were delighted to attend Ireland’s first Climate Carnival, which recently took place in the beautiful grounds of Ballintubbert Gardens and House. Focusing on Bold, Brave Leadership, this two-day event brought together climate activists, changemakers and thought leaders in Ireland’s climate space, as well as speakers from the international stage. The event kicked off with a fantastic networking dinner curated by GIY Waterford. During the evening, an insightful post-dinner discussion between Tony Juniper and Anja Murray inspired attendees and musical performances by Lírnan and Zoe Hayter added to the night’s atmosphere. Highlighting Peatlands and People On the day, we were stationed at the Peatlands and People tent, showcasing the project’s work with peatland restoration in Ireland. ERINN Innovation leads the Peatlands and People activities under the Just Transition Accelerator and we are also managing the project’s communication activities In the tent, visitors had the chance to experience a “bog in a box”, which highlighted the wonders of Irish bogs, along with the project’s progress planting Sphagnum moss on Bord na Mona bogs in Ireland’s midlands. The tent also showcased successful companies who have completed the Accelerate Green Programme – a scaling accelerator for green innovators. Samples and demos from Novelplast, BiaSol, Feighery’s Farm Beetroot Juice, HaPPE Earth and Borrisoleigh Bottling Ltd were on display. Climate House Ireland: A New Home for Ireland’s Climate and Nature Action At the Climate Carnival, we were keen to engage with participants around Peatlands and People’s social and cultural catalyst. This activity focused on Climate House Ireland. Situated in Ireland’s midlands, Climate House Ireland will have a transformative impact locally and globally. It will bring together nature, innovation and community in one inspiring place dedicated to tackling climate change, restoring biodiversity and designing more sustainable futures. Climate House Ireland won’t just be another visitor destination – it will act as an integrated, action-driven hub where everyone has a role to play. Through an immersive, interactive Encounter Experience, a state-of-the-art Futures Hub for businesses and changemakers, and a living Regenerative Park, Climate House will spark reflection, connection, and creative collaboration. Visitors will find inspiration, hope and agency to take climate action into their own hands. From playful storytelling and hands-on learning to meaningful dialogue and solution-building, this is a place where discovery leads to action. Ultimately, Climate House Ireland aims to: Immerse and inspire visitors with the beauty and importance of nature through playful storytelling and hands-on learning Showcase sustainable design and innovation Support communities and businesses in climate and nature action Build capacity to respond to climate and biodiversity challenges and create lasting economic, ecological and social benefits A Day Full of Energy and Hope During the Climate Carnival, we engaged with attendees through a video, positive discussions around the potential of the Climate House and an online forum where opinions could be shared. The focus was on gathering participants’ thoughts and views to help shape what Climate House Ireland should be and do. Illustrator Eimear McNally brought the ideas to life during the event with a beautiful illustration. Conversations with attendees on the day really highlighted the need for a space that brings people together to innovate and scale their solutions in support of a just and sustainable future. This event provided a moment of hope and connection with passionate like-minded individuals and we left feeling energised and hopeful. Thank you to Tom Popple (Climate Cocktail Club) and his team for organising such a wonderful event. Learn more about Climate House Ireland and how you can get involved on the Climate House Ireland website.
- ERINN News
November 6, 2025
Insights And Highlights From Aquaculture Europe 2025
ERINN Innovation recently attended Aquaculture Europe 2025 in Valencia, Spain (22nd–25th September) connecting with the international aquaculture community and highlighting its active role in supporting research, innovation and collaboration across the sector. As always, attending this event was a real highlight for our team and it was great to see so many familiar faces and have the opportunity to forge new connections. The EATiP Innovation Forum A major highlight of the week was our involvement in the EATiP Innovation Forum on 24th September, which featured five presentations from AQUAEXCEL3.0 partners. The session drew a full audience of researchers, policymakers and industry representatives, and was followed by an energetic networking event that encouraged new exchanges and collaborations. We also contributed to the AQUAEXCEL3.0 brokerage activities during the event, facilitating connections between research infrastructures and potential users. Connecting With The European Aquaculture Industry Throughout the conference, the ERINN Innovation team met with partners and collaborators from across Europe, including EATiP and its Mirror Platforms (MiPs), EMBRC, BIM, NTNU, HCMR, and the University of Ghent, among many others. These interactions strengthened existing partnerships and helped identify new opportunities to bridge research, policy and industry in sustainable aquaculture. The Importance of Marine Projects At the ERINN Innovation booth, visitors explored materials from several key Horizon Europe and H2020 projects, including AQUAEXCEL3.0, Cure4Aqua, MARBLES, NETTAG+, and BlueRemediomics. The displays showcased the breadth of our engagement in aquaculture innovation, from infrastructure access and biodiversity discovery to disease prevention and data integration. Among the exhibits were posters for AQUAEXCEL3.0 and Cure4Aqua, an example of the NETTAG+ floating gear tag, and synthetic fish tissue samples produced through Cure4Aqua’s work on improved diagnostic and health-monitoring methods. AQUAEXCEL3.0 continues to play a leading role in advancing access to world-class aquaculture research facilities across Europe, while Cure4Aqua is developing innovative tools for early disease detection, non-antibiotic treatments and improved fish welfare. Together with projects such as NETTAG+ and BlueRemediomics, these initiatives demonstrate the growing impact of collaborative research in shaping a resilient and responsible aquaculture sector. Reflecting on his time at Aquaculture Europe 2025, ERINN Innovation Senior Knowledge Transfer Officer, Keegan Porter, said: “Events like Aquaculture Europe 2025 remind us how much progress depends on collaboration…Research, particularly in the aquaculture sector, is never done in vacuum, and talking with attendees at our booth and around the expo really underscored the importance of everyone, from knowledge generation to policy and industry implementation, working together to ensure that research outcomes are properly translated into practical advances for the aquaculture sector.” We look forward to building on the connections made in Valencia and continuing to support the translation of European research into real-world solutions for sustainable aquaculture. Learn more about the ERINN Innovation marine projects showcased at Aquaculture Europe 2025.
- Project News
October 31, 2025
EmpowerUs Project Comes to Successful End
After three years of collaboration, creativity, and coastal innovation, the Horizon Europe EmpowerUs project reached its successful conclusion in September 2025 — but its impact is only beginning. Working hand in hand with coastal communities across Europe, the project has helped local changemakers address the pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges shaping their shores. About The Project The project focused on enhancing sustainable, inclusive and resilient coastal development, incorporating key principles like co-creation, inclusive transition mechanisms and ‘Leaving No One Behind’ to develop and implement local pilot initiatives in six Transition Coastal Labs (TCLs) across Europe. The TCLs are located in: Bulgaria: Burgas Cyprus: Eastern Limassol Region Finland: Åland Islands Ireland: Connemara and the Aran Islands Norway: Træna Spain: Cap de Creus The six pilot initiatives were co-designed based on the identified challenges and needs of the local communities. Coordinated by both an Academic Lead and Local Host partner, each pilot aimed to enhance the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the respective TCL. In addition to the pilot initiatives, the project has produced a number of key results, including a Handbook of Inclusive Methodologies, a Transition Roadmap, various policy briefs and academic papers, among others. These results will provide a variety of stakeholders (from local communities to policymakers at the EU level) with key insights and inspiration to support and design similar coastal initiatives in the future. Discover the full suite of results and resources on the EmpowerUs website. ERINN Innovation’s Role ERINN Innovation played a pivotal role in the project’s success, leading the communication, dissemination, exploitation, and knowledge management work. As leading experts within this space, we worked in collaboration with partners to ensure that the project’s results were widely disseminated and reached the relevant audiences at the local, national and European levels. We also worked closely with the coordinating partner, Nordland Research Institute, providing project management support to the team and coordinating the project task on Ocean Literacy activities. Each TCL team was supported in organising local Ocean Literacy activities in their communities, and we co-developed a number of Ocean Literacy resources, most notably the Women Making Waves Activity Book. We also collaborated with Nordland Research Institute on the rollout of the Ocean & Society Survey, and produced and disseminated a series of policy briefs, capturing national Ocean Literacy needs and policy recommendations for the six TCL countries. Reflecting on his time working on the EmpowerUs project, Donnchadh Kindlon, ERINN Innovation Senior Project Officer, said: “It’s been a real pleasure working on the EmpowerUs project. The highlight for me has undoubtedly been getting to work with such fantastic partners over the last three years and getting to work on marine social sciences, an often underappreciated yet very important field. I’m looking forward to exploring future opportunities to work with the partners again!” Project Legacy While the project has officially wrapped up, the legacy of EmpowerUs continues. With six Transition Coastal Labs established and strong relationships built, the local host partners will continue to engage with the communities to ensure the results are taken up and the project has a lasting positive impact. The project has ended at an exciting time for EU marine policy, with the launch of the European Ocean Pact by DG MARE earlier this year. The Pact includes a dedicated strategy for the development and resilience of EU coastal communities, and EmpowerUs partners plan to continue to engage with DG MARE to ensure that the key insights from the project are taken into consideration within the strategy. EmpowerUs has also recently been featured on Euronews on their Ocean Documentary series. Watch here. Want to find out more about ERINN Innovation’s co-creation work in EmpowerUs and other projects? Discover insights from our recent Co-Creation event.
- ERINN News
September 23, 2025
Insights From ERINN Innovation-Hosted Co-Creation Event
Ireland is facing a host of complex, interconnected socioecological challenges. These so-called “wicked problems”, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and political polarisation, are multi-faceted and require solutions that go beyond traditional top-down approaches. Across the country, co-creation, community-led bottom-up initiatives, and participatory approaches are being embraced more frequently, as practitioners and local actors increasingly see their potential to deliver more adaptive, equitable, and effective responses to these pressing issues. Co-Creating Change: Participatory Approaches for a Resilient Ireland was an event organised by ERINN Innovation in partnership with EU Projects EmpowerUs, SCORE, and WaterLANDS to act as a timely and action-oriented showcase and discussion space, to bring together practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, researchers, and innovators to explore how participatory approaches can unlock new possibilities for transformative change across Ireland, both in shaping policy and in driving on-the-ground practices. Through case studies, expert panels and interactive discussions, the event spotlighted how co-creation and participatory processes can be meaningfully implemented as a powerful method for addressing Ireland’s most pressing environmental issues, tackling the climate and biodiversity crises and ensuring a just transition. Panel 1: Using Living Labs and Regional Networks to Co-Create Solutions The first panel discussed the complexities and various implementations of co-creation in addressing significant challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, with a particular focus on how to move beyond mere “ticking the box” exercises. The panel was facilitated by Michael Papapetrou (Executive Director, ERINN Innovation) and featured contributions from Salem Gharbia (Atlantic Technological University Sligo, SCORE Project), Alex Miller (Queen’s University Belfast, EmpowerUs Project), Sarah Prosser (Bioregioning South East Ireland), and Micheál Ó Cinnéide (Irish Ocean Literacy Network). Each panellist shared experiences from their respective initiatives, exploring what truly works in these processes. The first panel explored the multifaceted nature of co-creation, from its potential to its challenges, emphasising the importance of clear problem definition, inclusive processes, innovative tools, and sustained engagement to empower communities and achieve tangible, sustainable outcomes. Panel 2: Implementing Restoration Solutions, Together The second panel of the day focused on the practicalities and challenges of implementing participatory approaches to nature restoration, facilitated by Laoise Dillon (Project Manager, ERINN Innovation) and featuring insights from Gary Goggins (National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE), Sonia Mena (Wetlands International, WaterLANDS), Bernie Duffy (FarmPEAT), and Ray Ó Foghlú (Hometree). Each speaker summarised these initiatives and the elements of co-creation that they have integrated into their work. The panel discussion noted that fragmented land ownership is a significant challenge in Ireland, where land is owned by numerous individuals (sometimes hundreds for commonage), making large-scale restoration difficult and expensive. Additionally, there’s a need for policymakers to move beyond solely ecological data in prioritisation and incorporate socio-economic and cultural factors, as farmers often have genuine concerns that need to be addressed. Reflecting on her panel, Laoise Dillon said: “It was amazing to hear from people working to embed community-centric approaches within restoration in Ireland and Europe. A key takeaway for me was that the technical aspects of restoration like blocking drains or planting trees aren’t the main challenge. What’s needed is a stronger focus on social thinking, acceptance, and economic innovation. There’s a clear need to bring people together to achieve this going forward – not just local communities on the ground, but also policymakers, funders, and others involved in the system.” Panel 3 – Bridging the Gap Between Society and Policy The final panel examined the role of participatory approaches in shaping policy and driving systemic change, facilitated by David Murphy (Chief Executive Officer, ERINN Innovation) and featuring perspectives from Desmond O’Mahony (Behavioural Insights Team Lead, Environmental Protection Agency), Jacqueline Healy (Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment – DCEE), Ali Sheridan (Chair of the Just Transition Commission), and Christine Domegan (Peatlands and People Foundation, Climate House Ireland). An initial discussion focused on the urgency of climate action versus the “slow emergency.” While the need for climate action is urgent, it’s often not perceived as such by the public due to more immediate concerns like bills and jobs, making it a marketing challenge to reframe the narrative. Further, panellists repeatedly emphasised that trust is hard-won and easily lost, especially with short-term projects and inconsistent support. Effective co-creation requires deep, structured engagement and often involves non-traditional methods to include marginalised voices and address inherent power imbalances. The panel also grappled with how to accelerate policy implementation, balance top-down mandates with bottom-up community needs and manage the complex interdependencies between various sectors (e.g., agriculture, energy, textiles). The importance of understanding social norms and designing interventions based on people’s actual needs and motivations, rather than just what policymakers want, was highlighted through social marketing examples. Continuing The Conversation Following all three panels, an open discussion and Q&A took place. The session focused on several interconnected challenges and opportunities related to co-creation, climate action, and community engagement. Co-Creating Change: Participatory Approaches for a Resilient Ireland highlighted the vital role of participatory approaches in building a more resilient and sustainable Ireland. Speaking about the event, ERINN Innovation Executive Director Michael Papapetrou said: “At ERINN Innovation, we’re always trying to maximise the impact of our European projects. This event was a good reminder that we should always prioritise the time and resources needed to build trust in the communities where projects are taking place. An important first step in that process is to make sure to establish a common understanding with all necessary stakeholders of the problem that we’re trying to solve.” A sincere thank you from ERINN Innovation to all the panellists and attendees who made the event a success. We are looking forward to continuing this work towards a more inclusive, resilient Ireland. Read the full event report, created in collaboration with all panelists, here. Visit our Projects Page to explore the different European projects ERINN Innovation is working with. ERINN Innovation will be continuing these conversations around co-creation at the upcoming Climate Carnival.
- Knowledge Transfer
September 17, 2025
CAP Network Ireland – Transferring Innovative Agricultural Knowledge
The CAP Network Ireland Innovation Hub is delivering a targeted initiative to collect and transfer impactful knowledge with Irish farmers, rural communities and other relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector. At the core of this effort are three thematic pilots focused on Horticulture, Organics, and Irish European Innovation Projects (EIP-AGRI), designed to find impactful solutions to the unique challenges within these sectors. Led by ERINN Innovation, the purpose of the Innovation Hub is to foster innovation, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and promote knowledge exchange across the agricultural landscape. The thematic pilots are a key part of this strategy, looking to source and transfer valuable knowledge from across Europe to those who need it most in Ireland. The Horticulture pilot is guided by the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027, while the Organics pilot aligns with the National Organic Strategy 2024-2030. Utilising ERINN Innovation’s KT Methodology The Innovation Hub employs a robust, step-wise Knowledge Transfer (KT) methodology that is needs-driven and focused on creating real-world impact: Mining & Collection: The phase involved mapping the specific needs and challenges of the Irish horticulture and organic sectors and relevant past EIP-AGRI projects. The team then used this information to guide a focused search for innovative solutions and knowledge to key challenges, capturing them as individual ‘Knowledge Outputs’ (KOs). This was done with structured interviews with project owners and coordinators across Ireland and Europe. Analysis: Once collected, these KOs were analysed by experts from industry, academia, and government bodies including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). This phase involved prioritising the KOs that have the highest potential for the Irish sector and mapping out the steps to impact. Transfer: The final phase in the process targets action. For each prioritised KO, the Hub will develop a bespoke transfer plan, outlining target users, key actions that need to take place, such as workshops or factsheet development, to ensure the knowledge is actively transferred and adopted by end users. Transferring Agricultural Knowledge The CAP Network Innovation Hub is currently entering the Transfer phase, developing bespoke transfer plans under each of the three Thematic pilots in Horticulture, Organics and EIP-AGRI Projects. Through the first round of this process, the Hub has successfully identified a wealth of innovative knowledge. The team has collected 29 Knowledge Outputs (KOs) for the horticulture sector, 22 for the organics sector, and 33 from the EIP-AGRI projects. Speaking about the pilots and the work of the Hub, Leo McGrane, CAP Network Innovation Hub lead and ERINN Innovation Senior Project Manager, said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead the CAP Network Ireland’s Knowledge Transfer Pilots, applying ERINN Innovation’s KT methodology to collect, analyse and transfer the most promising innovations from across Europe in horticulture, organics, and EIP-AGRI. It’s about making sure the best ideas don’t just stay on paper but make a real difference to Irish farmers. Our Innovation Hub is the central platform where we share the validated practices and innovations we collect directly with Irish farmers to help them build more sustainable and successful Irish farming sector.” A Call for Knowledge The success of these pilots relies on collaboration and the sharing of expertise. As the CAP Network Ireland Innovation Hub continues its work, with a second round of knowledge collection planned for the latter half of 2025, it extends an invitation to all stakeholders in the Irish horticulture and organic sectors, and to past Operational Group (OG) Coordinators involved in successful EIP Projects. If you are aware of any relevant innovative knowledge, practices, or tools that could benefit Irish farmers, the Innovation Hub wants to hear from you. Your contribution could help shape the future of Irish agriculture, fostering sustainable growth and building a more resilient and profitable industry for all. To share your knowledge or learn more, please visit the CAP Network Ireland Innovation Hub or contact members of the ERINN Innovation CAP Network Ireland team (Leo McGrane, Claire Kearney, Sarah Glascott) via the Network’s Helpdesk. Learn more about ERINN Innovation’s KT service and methodology and contact us if you would like to discuss KT opportunities with ERINN Innovation.
- ERINN News
September 4, 2025
Bold Brave Leadership: Join us at Climate Carnival
Bringing Ireland’s changemakers together At a time when the need for urgent and collective climate action has never been greater, Ireland’s first Climate Carnival offers a moment of hope, creativity and community. On 29–30 September, Ballintubbert Gardens and House in Laois will transform into an immersive hub of climate action. Ireland’s changemakers will gather where music meets ideas, workshops spark solutions, and conversations turn into collective action. From creative spaces to networking opportunities (and even the Climate Cocktail Club to finish off), it promises to be a thoughtful, creative space for those driving impact – from policy through to practice. As the official innovation partner, ERINN Innovation is proud to help shape an event that celebrates not just what’s possible, but what’s necessary for a more sustainable future. The concept for Climate Carnival is to mobilise changemakers to “inspire, entertain and explore radical and creative solutions to drive business, community and planetary impact now” and attendees will be immersed in five themed zones: Leadership, People Power, Landscapes, Future of Food and Exploration. The Power of Peatlands During the event, our partners Peatlands and People will be exhibiting their work to restore and rehabilitate peatlands across Ireland’s midlands, as well as establish a business accelerator programme. Photos courtesy Ballintubbert Gardens and House. All rights reserved. Speaking ahead of the event, Laoise Dillon, Project Manager for LIFE IP Peatlands and People, said: “We’re so excited for Climate Carnival and to meet you all at the Peatlands and People tent. We’ll be showcasing the strides our fantastic team has been making in the project’s second phase.” ERINN Innovation are proud to support an event that brings big ideas to life. Don’t miss out! Secure your tickets for Climate Carnival on the Climate Cocktail Club website. We can’t wait to see you there! ERINN Innovation have been supporting the Climate Cocktail Club since its resurgence in 2024. Read about our experiences forging connections at these unique events.
- Project News
July 7, 2025
Unlocking the Potential of XTREAM Environments
ERINN Innovation is proud to be part of the Horizon Europe project XTREAM, a €4.5 million, four-year initiative coordinated by NORCE Norwegian Research Centre that explores the biodiversity of extreme aquatic environments to accelerate the circular bioeconomy. XTREAM brings together a dynamic, multidisciplinary consortium to uncover novel enzymes, bioactives, and biomaterials from extremophiles, microorganisms that thrive in some of the planet’s harshest habitats, including deep-sea brine pools, hydrothermal vents, polar waters, and acidic lakes. These remarkable life forms hold vast potential for sustainable innovation across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, nutraceuticals, green industry, agriculture, and food. ERINN Innovation leads the Exploitation Plan within Work Package 5, focusing on translating XTREAM’s scientific advances into real-world benefits for industry, policymakers, and society. Above: Example of an acid drainage site characterised by low pH and elevated concentrations of dissolved metals. The project targets microbes adapted to extreme temperatures, pressures, salinities, and pH levels – environments that challenge most life forms. By tapping into these unique ecosystems, XTREAM aims to discover exceptionally stable and functional biomolecules with broad application potential. Beyond scientific discovery, XTREAM is committed to responsible and ethical exploitation. The project prioritises fair benefit sharing, supports policy development and capacity building, and employs low-impact, efficient biodiscovery methods that reduce environmental strain while accelerating innovation. Above: Hypersaline conditions observed in marine solar salterns, representative of high-salinity environments. As the lead of XTREAM’s exploitation activities, ERINN Innovation applies its proven Knowledge Transfer Methodology to identify and prioritise key exploitable results, engage stakeholders, and develop targeted strategies that maximise the uptake and impact of project outcomes. Our goal is to move XTREAM’s discoveries beyond the lab and into practical solutions that support Europe’s green transitions. By developing bio-based alternatives to fossil-derived chemicals and materials, XTREAM aligns closely with major EU priorities, including the European Green Deal, EU Biodiversity Strategy, and the Sustainable Blue Economy, contributing to a resilient and circular bioeconomy. (Main image: Representative polar and glacial environment, illustrating extreme cold conditions. All images licenced by WP5 lead- ScienSeed.) Learn more about ERINN Innovation’s Knowledge Transfer methodology.
- ERINN News
June 27, 2025
Driving Ocean Solutions: Highlights from EMD 2025
In May, the ERINN Innovation team attended European Maritime Day 2025 (EMD) in Cork, Ireland; an annual flagship event that gathers leaders, researchers, policymakers, and innovators across Europe’s blue economy. With a packed programme, the event highlighted the growing momentum for a sustainable and inclusive ocean future. Blue Economy, Gender Inclusion, and Mission Ocean ERINN Innovation Senior Project Officer, Donnchadh Kindlon, joined the “Blue Women Champions” workshop, hosted by the WINBLUE and WIN-BIG projects, which spotlighted gender and diversity in the EU blue economy. The session showcased outputs such as the WINBLUE Good Practices Guide and the WIN-BIG Women Ocean Champions campaign. Four women leaders; Carla de Carolis of Biochica, Máire Ní Éinniú of Nua na Mara, Vera Quinlan from the Marine Institute, and Alice Pari from Blueat, shared insights from their work. The session closed with a strong message from Aneta Willems of CINEA: “Let’s make sure women in the blue economy are not the exception, but the norm.” Donnchadh also attended a workshop on the next phase of the EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters. He noted that the emphasis is now on scaling successful innovations from Phase 1 and embedding governance, finance, and stakeholder engagement to make restoration business as usual. ERINN Innovation Projects Making an Impact European Maritime Day brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across the fishing industry, and SURIMI was naturally at the heart of many conversations. Represented by Ladina Jeisy (Project Officer, ERINN Innovation), SURIMI’s pioneering work on integrating socio-ecological fishery models into the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO) drew significant attention from passers-by and participants alike. Beyond its technical contributions, SURIMI’s growing influence in contributing to the future of fisheries management and policy sparked widespread interest. ERINN Innovation was approached by leading figures in the DTO space, who praised the project’s distinctive branding, striking and unconventional colour palette, and its strong social media presence featuring engaging, high-quality content. Just one year into the project, it is already clear that SURIMI is making a meaningful impact, both in advancing sustainable fisheries and in positioning itself as a visible and influential force within the European Digital Twin Ocean landscape. Rebecca Pflanz (Project Officer, ERINN Innovation – representing NETTAG+), presented their acoustic tag; a new tool designed to detect and recover lost fishing gear, helping to reduce marine litter. The technology attracted attention from across sectors. BluePoint Interreg Atlantic Area showed interest in its potential to address marine plastics. Mare Nostrum from Romania saw promising applications for dolphin monitoring in the Black Sea. The Belgian Blue Cluster recognised its value for offshore renewable energy infrastructure. Rebecca also connected with Dr. Toste Tanhua of Geomar and the SOOP Platform, which promotes ocean data collection through collaborative approaches between sailors, scientists, and policymakers. She noted how this aligns well with ERINN Innovation’s work on cetacean detection. Later, she attended a session titled “Sailing for Science and Climate Action,” which showcased how initiatives like The Ocean Race are equipping vessels with observation kits to collect data on temperature, salinity, microplastics and eDNA in remote ocean areas. To learn more about the other marine projects ERINN Innovation represented at EMD, watch the video below: Blue Cities and Local Leadership Casey Borklund (Project Officer, ERINN Innovation – representing the recently concluded SCORE project) joined a session with the mayors of Brest, Ravenna, Den Helder, and Svendborg, which focused on how cities are leading efforts to build ocean resilience. Cork’s mayor signed the Blue Cities Declaration, a strong symbol of local commitment. Casey found the mayor’s integrated, community-driven strategies particularly inspiring. She also explored approaches to public engagement, including citizen science activities that connect data collection with sailing events. For her, this showed how accessible, community-oriented methods can help bridge the gap between science and society. Governance and Funding for a Sustainable Ocean ERINN Innovation’s Senior Project Manager, Annette Wilson, participated in the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) regional workshop. The programme plans €450 million in funding over seven years and will soon launch a joint call focused on coastal resilience. Speakers highlighted the vital role of decarbonisation, not only for the planet but also for long-term competitiveness. Irish and EU leaders emphasised their commitments during high-level policy sessions. Taoiseach Micheál Martin remarked; “Good strides made on land with NPW; need to do that with our seas 2030; 30% to be protected. More focus on adoption and need the funding streams to support this.” He also noted that while the Ocean Pact was originally expected to launch at EMD, its unveiling has been delayed but remained highly anticipated at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference held June 9 – 13, where Ireland’s updated marine planning statement was open for consultation, reaffirming its commitment to protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030. Advancing Marine Spatial Planning Through Academic Partnerships Ladina Jeisy attended the “Seawards” workshop, which brought together a network of maritime universities interested in long-term collaboration. She also joined a session on marine spatial planning (MSP), where government agencies and EU bodies shared success stories and lessons learned. One standout example was the Dutch North Sea Agreement, which Ladina described as a model of collaborative, cross-sector planning. Participants stressed the importance of engaging fishers early in the MSP process and called for harmonised data-sharing across national borders. International Action for Healthy Oceans The Fisheries and Ocean Dialogue focused on Europe’s role in international waters. Panelists from DG MARE, DGAMPA, Oceana, and the European Marine Board discussed the urgent need to ratify the High Seas Treaty, expand scientific cooperation in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and ensure that international pledges translate into real-world change. One speaker said; “There are high expectations on Europe as a global leader, we need to match ambition with delivery.” Reflections and Key Lessons The ERINN Innovation team left EMD 2025 energised by the momentum and collaboration on display. Across sessions, it was clear that EU Mission Ocean is shifting into a critical phase, where scaling solutions, unlocking financing, and embedding supportive policy are key to long-term impact. While the Ocean Pact’s formal launch was still pending, its anticipated role as a driver of wave and tidal energy signals strong future potential. Cork, as this year’s host city, stood out not just for its hospitality but also for its growing leadership in offshore renewable energy. Throughout the event, the value of citizen science and public engagement emerged as a consistent theme, highlighting how inclusive, community-based efforts are essential for bridging knowledge gaps and building lasting support for ocean action. A huge thanks to Cork City Council, the European Commission, and all our fellow participants for an engaging and forward-looking event. ERINN Innovation remains committed to driving science-policy impact in the sustainable blue economy. Want to learn more about the marine projects we showcased at EMD? Read our previous blog on Supporting Ocean Solutions at European Maritime Day 2025.
- Project News
June 25, 2025
Living Labs in EU-Funded Projects: Lessons Learned
The Smart Control of Climate Resilience in European Coastal Cities (SCORE) project, funded under Horizon 2020, brought together innovative technologies and participatory approaches to tackle climate challenges in coastal areas. A cornerstone of the project was its network of 10 Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs), which provided spaces for local stakeholders, citizens, policymakers, researchers, and industry, to co-create solutions for their communities to increase climate resilience. ERINN Innovation led and contributed to several Living Lab implementation activities throughout SCORE, helping partners apply participatory methods in practice. Their involvement across different project phases, from concept and design to on-the-ground delivery, has given ERINN Innovation well-rounded expertise in the Living Lab approach. ERINN Innovation’s Role in SCORE’s Living Labs Throughout the SCORE project, ERINN Innovation played a pivotal part in ensuring that SCORE’s Living Labs achieved real impact and generated transferable knowledge. Leading the Lessons Learned task, ERINN Innovation worked closely with partners to capture valuable insights from the experience of implementing the 10 CCLLs. The team took a systematic and mixed-methods approach, drawing on interviews, surveys, and interactive sessions, to document challenges, successes, and best practices. This effort was not just about reporting on what worked but about distilling learnings that could guide future projects. The result was the Navigating Living Labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE’s 10 Coastal City Living Labs guide, along with an associated course with these insights available here. This course features videos of CCLL Core Teams in conversation with ERINN Innovation partners, along with video on the Living Lab Integrative Process from SCORE project partners European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). It serves as a great resource for those interested in learning how to create and implement a successful Living Lab. Key Insights for Horizon Europe Projects One important finding from ERINN Innovation’s work is that Living Labs in EU-funded projects present unique challenges and opportunities compared to other types of Living Labs, such as those led by municipalities or the private sector. Horizon Europe projects, with their specific timelines, funding and reporting structures, and multi-partner consortia, require careful adaptation of Living Lab methodologies. To address this, ERINN Innovation developed a dedicated chapter in Navigating Living Labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE’s 10 Coastal City Living Labs which focused on applying Living Lab approaches within the context of Horizon Europe and other EU programmes. This chapter offers actionable insights for project managers and partners involved in European-funded initiatives and is summarised in the video below. Overall, key advantages of Horizon Europe funding include financial stability, long-term collaboration opportunities, and pathways to future funding, which are benefits that have already enabled some CCLLs to extend their work beyond SCORE. Best practices for project design stress the importance of: Building strong, well-resourced Core Teams with at least one municipal partner and two funded organisations per CCLL. Carefully considering the number and geographic distribution of Living Labs. Designing flexible work packages that allow time for relationship-building, community engagement, and knowledge sharing. The CCLLs also noted the need to integrate technical and local partners to ensure tools and methods are relevant and actionable. Reflections on collaboration models recommend moving away from rigid “frontrunner vs follower” roles toward more balanced knowledge sharing systems based on shared challenges. Sustainability considerations highlight the value of diverse partner teams, clear post-project branding, ongoing engagement through communities of practice, and well-managed project closure strategies that maintain stakeholder trust and momentum. Ultimately, SCORE’s experience shows that with the right project structure, integrating Living Labs into EU-funded projects can create lasting, high-impact Living Labs that foster innovation, resilience, and strong community ties. Looking Ahead Building on the success of their work in SCORE, ERINN Innovation is looking to continue its involvement in participatory methods and Living Lab approaches. The team is actively seeking opportunities to bring this expertise to new projects, across a range of societal challenges. With proven experience in supporting collaborative innovation across the project lifecycle, ERINN Innovation is well-positioned to help support the design and delivery of Living Labs that empower communities and foster meaningful engagement, ensuring that solutions are not only innovative but grounded in real-world needs. Read our recent blog celebrating the successful conclusion of the SCORE project.
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ERINN Innovation is a value-driven company owned by the staff who support research and innovation to have impact.
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ERINN Innovation Ltd
Company No.: 600883 (Ireland)
Company No.: 600883 (Ireland)
Directors
David Murphy (IE/UK)
Laura Richardson (IE)
Marieke Reuver (NL)
Michael Papapetrou (GR/IE)
Reid Hole (NO)
