On 29–30 September 2026, Limassol, Cyprus, will host the kick-off meeting of MEDCONNECT – Mediterranean Lighthouse Connectivity Platform for Scaling Up Solutions and Regional Partnerships, the new European project designed to strengthen and connect the Mediterranean innovation ecosystem within the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”.
Hosted at the Limassol Chamber of Commerce & Industry and coordinated by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute – CMMI, the meeting will bring together for the first time in person the 20 partners from 15 countries that will work together over the next three years to accelerate the transition towards a healthier, more resilient and sustainable Mediterranean.
MEDCONNECT was created with an ambition that goes beyond the implementation of a single project: to build lasting connections between countries, expertise, businesses, research organisations, institutions and communities; bring innovative solutions closer to real-world environments; and create the conditions for the most effective approaches to be replicated and scaled across the Mediterranean.
“Our ambition is not simply to implement a successful project, but to build connections across the Mediterranean, bring solutions closer to real-world environments, mobilise communities and stakeholders, and create the conditions for successful approaches to be replicated and scaled.”
Gotelenne Piaton, MEDCONNECT Project Coordinator, CMMI
At the heart of MEDCONNECT is the idea that environmental restoration, innovation and a competitive, decarbonised blue economy can — and must — advance together. The project will work to strengthen the Mediterranean Lighthouse by connecting national and regional innovation ecosystems, supporting the uptake of innovative solutions and creating stronger links between research, policy, business, investment and communities.
Two days to turn the project into a shared programme of action
The kick-off meeting will be the first major operational step in moving from project commitments to concrete implementation.
The first day, 29 September, will focus on the overall MEDCONNECT framework, exchanges with representatives of the European Commission and CINEA, and alignment among partners and project activities. The programme includes contributions from Christina Casella, CINEA Project Officer, and Guido Sacchetto, DG MARE, as well as dedicated sessions covering project management, communication, the Digital Portal, ecosystem transformation, Regional Living Lab Systems, and pathways for accelerating and financing innovation.
The day will conclude with the public launch of MEDCONNECT, bringing the consortium together with representatives of the European Union, the Government of Cyprus and the wider maritime and blue economy community. The event will feature a welcome address by Theodoulos Mesimeris, Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping of Cyprus, followed by a project presentation and a panel discussion with Work Package leaders.
On 30 September, the programme will move further into implementation, with operational sessions and two key workshops for the future MEDCONNECT architecture. The first will focus on setting up and coordinating the 14 National Hubs, including governance, stakeholder engagement, common challenges and opportunities. The second will address the identification, validation, demonstration and scaling of innovative solutions, including selection criteria and lessons learned from other initiatives.
The agenda also includes a Synergies Roundtable with sister initiatives including TasCRestore-MED, the ZERO POLLUTION Cluster, CO-WATERS and BlueMission AA, opening the discussion on opportunities for collaboration, joint activities and knowledge sharing across the wider Mission ecosystem.
A further session will be dedicated to the Advisory Board and strategic partnerships, with discussions on long-term collaboration mechanisms, while the kick-off will conclude with a visit to the Port of Limassol and the EUROGATE Terminal, connecting the discussions with one of the project’s operational environments.
The Limassol meeting marks the beginning of a three-year journey aimed at turning MEDCONNECT into a real connectivity platform for the Mediterranean Lighthouse: connecting Hubs, Living Lab Systems, stakeholders, innovative solutions and investment pathways, and building a community capable of sustaining collaboration and impact well beyond the project’s lifetime.
MEDCONNECT is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101296089 and is part of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”.