convening for problem-solving experimentation.
creating a connected Baltic-REGION community, strengthened by an enhanced network of stakeholders, to address emerging challenges.


info@BalticLivingLab.com


BALTIC LIVING LAB



SAMPLE OF A Common Challenge for the nordic region:

Tackling Hypoxia - EUTROPHICATION IN THE BALTIC SEA IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE LARGEST DEAD ZONe IN EUROPE

background picture attribution:

Algae bloomS CAUSED BY the rapid multiplying of phytoplankton THAT APPEAR AS SWIRLS

European Space Agency



The Baltic Living Lab is a social enterprise created to promote cross-sector collaboration across the eight EU countries bordering the Baltic Sea, forging partnerships to tackle pressing societal and environmental challenges in the region. By integrating a wide range of expertise and resources, we can create a platform for transformative solutions that advance sustainable development and foster resilience.

Key areas of focus include:
* Collaborative Leadership and Innovation: Empowering youth as Agents of Change by fostering responsibility for environmental stewardship. Inspired by Horizon SHORE (https://shoreproject.eu), the initiative develops age-appropriate sustainability learning materials for schools and NGOs to cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

* Open-Schooling Methodologies: Connecting schools, families, and communities to co-create actionable solutions for critical regional challenges such as climate change, waste management, and energy efficiency, fostering a collective sense of purpose and shared responsibility.

* Citizen-Science Initiatives: Encouraging hands-on, cross-sector engagement by enabling youth to lead efforts in monitoring water quality, biodiversity, and plastic pollution, translating data into meaningful environmental actions.

By working across sectors and borders, the Baltic Living Lab transforms fragmented efforts into cohesive regional strategies, strengthening the ability of communities to address shared challenges and shape a sustainable and equitable future. Via our sister site at the Baltic Ecosystem, we deliver practical tools and methodologies for collective problem-solving, enhance youth leadership, and strengthen civic engagement. Stakeholders include schools, families, communities, policymakers, NGOs, and local governments collaborate to achieve a socially- and environmentally-sustainable Nordic/Baltic region.



Our work is aimed at fostering open-schooling methodologies utilization for cooperation amongst the multiple-helix in the Blue Economy industrial ecosystem, with schools, heiS, researchers, government and the Civil Society - in communities of the Baltic Region.


Our overarching objective is to facilitate a successful first phase (2022-2025) of the EU Mission Ocean, ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’. Through co-development and co-creation of projects with stakeholders, the Baltic Living Lab provides tools that can be used to achieve the Mission objectives across sectors while inspiring individuals to participate in citizen science.


CURRENT PROJECTS:


* sERVING AS A HORIZON SHORE (HTTPS://SHOREPROJECT.EU) COUNTRY HUB, the baltic living lab CREATES TEACHING AND TRAINING LEARNING ROUTES AROUND BLUE LITERACY AIMED AT COMBATTING "HYDROLOGICAL BLINDNESS" - THE LACK OF AWARENESS OF THE VITAL ROLE EARTH'S WATER BODIES PLAY IN REGULATING CLIMATE


* ENABLERS OF BLUE LITERACY/BLUE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT VIA HACKATHONS AND VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE CONTENT as participants in the digieduhack initiative of the eu digital education plan 2021-2027


* ESTONIAN COUNTRY LEADER IN THE "PLASTIC PIRATES" INITIATIVE TO FIGHT PLASTIC POLLUTION


* CONTENT CREATOR FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL INNOVATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY AND BLUE ECONOMY WORKforce PREPAREDNESS


* WEBINARS FOR DIALOGUE REGARDING COMMON INTERESTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TWIN-TRANSITION (DECARBONIZATION AND DIGITALIZATION) ADAPTATION, ENGAGING ALL COUNTRIES BORDERING THE BALTIC SEA


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We invite you to join us as we prepare 2025's event as a collaboration initiative aimed at enhancing the health and sustainability of the Baltic Sea. As organizations sharing common goals, your expertise and insights are invaluable in addressing the challenges facing both marine and freshwater ecosystems and adapting to the Twin Transition - decarbonization and digitalization. Together, we can foster innovative solutions, share best practices, and amplify our collective impact. Let’s unite our efforts to promote blue literacy, sustainable practices, and community engagement in the Baltic Sea Region!

#BalticRegionHackathon forms part of annual DigiEduHack initiative, supporting the EU's Digital Education Plan 2021-2027. This year, our "Blue Escape" challenge hosted 50+ participants who collaborated in teamwork to co-create virtual escape room concepts that develop systems thinking skills.
https://digieduhack.com/challenges/blue-escape-develop-systems-thinking-skills-through-virtual-escape-rooms-2

Email us a note - info@balticlivinglab.com

THE COUNTRY HUB FOR ESTONIA



SHORE is one of three Horizon Europe sister projects to the EU Mission Ocean that strives to increase ocean literacy by engaging students and teachers to implement the Mission Ocean’s objectives through activities and collaborative projects in schools. Within this project, the project partners will curate training and educational materials and courses in line with blue curricula for schools and also for use in non-formal learning environments. Our duties at the Baltic Living Lab involve providing guidance to schools wanting to apply for funding or join the Network of European Blue Schools, serve as mentors for schools having received funding for blue school projects, make reference to curated material on SHORE's five areas of thematic focus (biodiversity, water-based activities, climate change, sustainable use of resources, hazardous substances), and foster the use of open-schooling methodologies for school-community collaboration.



A MATCHMAKER OF COMMON INTERESTS



In an era where the health of Earth's waters is paramount, fostering collaboration among organizations that share a commitment to blue literacy is essential. M2 Matchmaking Mechanism is designed to connect diverse stakeholders—ranging from educational institutions and NGOs to governmental agencies and private enterprises—who are united by common goals in promoting blue literacy, sustainability challenges in the Blue Economy industrial ecosystem, and adaptability to the Twin Transition - decarbonization and digitalization. M2 not only facilitates the exchange of ideas and resources but also encourages the co-development of initiatives that enhance public understanding of marine ecosystems and their vital role in sustainable development with citizen science.



APPLYING THE LIVING LAB MODEL



​Inserting the Living Lab model into societal, environmental, academic, technological, and financial flows towards adapting Blue Economy operations to the Twin Transition of decarbonization and digitalization involves a structured approach that promotes collaboration, experimentation, and stakeholder engagement. By fostering active participation of local communities, businesses, and stakeholders in the design and implementation of Blue Economy initiatives, the Baltic Living Lab encourages cross-sectoral collaboration to address the needs and priorities of the eight countries surrounding the Baltic Sea.



Baltic Living Lab MTÜ


Estonian NGO PIC 881723405


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