The Science – Policy Dialogue Forum was organized as part of the Horizon 2020-funded BRIDGE – BS project with the intention of bringing together scientists and policy-makers to discuss important cross-cutting issues in the Black Sea’s established and emerging blue economy sectors. The event consisted of three interactive thematic Working Groups (WGs) with moderated discussions centered on i) multistressors on the Black Sea ecosystem, ii) innovation & entrepreneurship, and iii) ocean literacy, capacity building & skills, in order to facilitate a constructive science-policy dialogue based on actual needs and priorities.
Special emphasis was placed on developing a science-policy synergy in order to facilitate future exchanges and subsequent actions. It aimed to bring together scientists and researchers with policy-making and policy-delivery stakeholders to support the creation of a science-policy stream; facilitate constructive dialogue and two-way exchange on key cross-cutting issues on emerging and established blue economy sectors; and contribute to the creation of the cooperation framework for the future use of the project’s results.
The event is geared toward policymakers, policy-implementation stakeholders, researchers, and academics involved in the blue economy sectors in Black Sea nations. Ms Lydia Papadaki, representing ATHENA RC team, also participated in the “Science-Policy Dialogue Forum for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea”, in Thessaloniki, Greece on 29th of March.