The Knowledge Transfer (KT) process in PREP4BLUE (P4B), applies a tried and tested methodology, developed by WP4 Leader ERINN Innovation (Ireland), supported by innovative, AI-based information systems. The methodology is adapted to the needs of PREP4BLUE to build an effective tool for ‘Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters’.
The ultimate goal of the Knowledge Transfer Methodology by ERINN is to enhance uptake of solutions and thus foster impact. To achieve impact, the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on European Missions highlights that “Missions put emphasis on demonstrating, scaling up and replicating existing and new solutions including social innovations. This will ensure a tailor-made innovation approach including social innovation, in which solutions will be fully adapted to fit local circumstances. Furthermore, incremental changes will not be sufficient. These challenges require disruption, new ideas and risk-taking. Missions fully embrace out-of-the-box thinking by stimulating experimentation and bottom-up, multiple solutions to reach their objectives, also embracing education and training institutions for their key role in developing citizens’ talents, knowledge and skills”.
The WP4 activities are deeply aligned to this vision. Solutions are identified with innovative AI-supported tools developed by FHG (Leader of Task 4.1) and SDU (Leader of Task 4.2). Knowledge is transferred by a dedicated group of ‘Knowledge Fellows’ led by ERINN (Leader of Task 4.3) in collaboration with CNR and CETMAR.
In a value driven approach, the first months of work within WP4 were focused on building an ontology, developing aMission Ecosystem Database (DB), training the knowledge fellows, while also trialing and adapting the methodology to the needs in PREP4BLUE. Initial results are now ready to be shared: based on the AI supported DB-based identification of relevant projects, synergies with 24 innovative projects have been established and over 90 research outputs have been identified with potential contribution to the Mission Objectives which will be again showcased in the DB.
In the second year of P4B these efforts will continue using an agile approach. Moreover, expert panels are now being organised with the partners involved in Task 4.3 to identify the outputs with high potential to contribute to the mission objectives. With these, Knowledge Transfer activities will be undertaken subsequent scale-up in the Mission Lighthouse Areas and in collaboration with the projects funded under the Mission. The alpha version of the DB is foreseen to go live in October ’23.
The co-creative and co-implementative nature of PREP4BLUE is put into practice in WP4 to prepare the ‘Research & Innovation Core for Mission Ocean, Seas & Waters’.
