Bringing the Blue Back into Our Black Sea

The Black Sea is a unique and sensitive ecosystem, vital to the economy and culture of six countries. However, it faces severe environmental pressures that threaten its future. BBSEA is dedicated to tackling these challenges by fostering targeted innovation and regional cooperation. Here are the three key areas of concern we are addressing:

Agricultural runoff and untreated municipal wastewater leads to significant biodiversity loss, and threatening the sustainability of commercial fisheries.

Chemicals from industry, shipping, as well as war-related pollution, including leakage from sunken vessels and munitions poses significant risks to ecosystem integrity and human health.

Plastic and solid waste from land-based sources, sea activities, and war-related debris pose a direct threat to marine fauna, introduce microplastics into the food web, and undermine key economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries.

Over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year. By 2050, the sea could contain more plastic than fish by weight. Microplastics are found in seafood, drinking water, and even the air, threatening both marine life and human health.

Georgia

Ukraine

Türkiye

Moldova

Our Activities - Click to see where the BBSEA Project is currently operating

To address the Black Sea's shared challenges, our regional strategy strengthens national environmental policy and empowers innovators to create sustainable solutions in our focus countries Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine. To explore bringing this program to another country, please get in touch with our team: bbsea.contact@unops.org.

Forging a Blue Future: Our Vision for Innovation

Our vision is a Black Sea where scientific innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are the primary drivers of environmental recovery and economic prosperity. We believe the region's complex challenges are also opportunities for ground-breaking solutions. BBSEA acts as a catalyst, connecting research with market needs; an accelerator, providing funding and support to turn ideas into scalable impact; and a bridge, fostering collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines. Fortunately, we are not the only ones promoting innovation in the Black Sea area. Let us introduce you to the key players in the region. Together, we are building an ecosystem where technology serves ecology and economy, hand-in-hand.

The EU Research Project "Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea" (DOORS) unites partners from science, policy, and industry across Europe to address climate and human impacts and support the regeneration of the Black Sea.

Led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this EU-funded project improves environmental monitoring in Georgia and Ukraine by combining innovative methods like eDNA analysis with large-scale citizen science campaigns.

Coordinated by Turkey's Middle East Technical University (METU), the EU-funded BRIDGE-BS project established the Black Sea Accelerator, a platform uniting partners from all coastal countries to help innovators transform marine research into sustainable business opportunities.

Opportunities Through Technologies and Innovation in Moldova (OPTIM), implemented in Moldova by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and funded by Switzerland and Sweden, OPTIM aims to boost the competitiveness of the local IT and engineering sectors by building a self-sustaining tech ecosystem through improved education and strong university-private sector partnerships.