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Living Labs

The Living Labs are a core part of the PHAROS project. They empower key local community actors across each demo and replication site to co-develop and manage nature based solutions and marine restoration activities alongside the PHAROS consortium partners.

Local residents, fishers, teachers, business owners, and local government officials all take part. Activities are organised as local hubs, real world spaces where scientists, fishers, students, and entrepreneurs come together to actually shape what happens. They ask questions, share what they know, try out new ideas, and work out what works for their own stretch of coast. The whole point is to make sure the solutions we test are locally wanted, locally owned, and built to last.

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DEMO SITES LIVING LABS

Gran Canaria (Spain)

Led by CMC with support from CSIC and ICoRSA, this island‑wide Living Lab focuses on marine biodiversity monitoring through MINKA, invasive species tracking via RedPROMAR integration, and ocean literacy. It was launched during the January 2026 Mega‑Event with a BioBlitz involving dive sites, shoreline locations, and local Blue SMEs. The lab connects Blue Schools, Fisher Guardians for commercial fishers, and Citizen Litter Entrepreneurs. It addresses MPA co‑management challenges and the intersection of licensing and innovation in Gran Canaria’s blue economy.

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Ireland

Coordinated by MTU and supported by BMRS and ICoRSA, this Living Lab, launched in May 2026, focuses on IMTA for sustainable food production, biodiversity enhancement, and new blue products. It connects biodiversity conservation with aquaculture through community engagement in algae and alien species monitoring. The lab links to Fish Producers Organisations for advisory roles and explores Fisher Guardians programmes. It builds on existing initiatives like Blue Schools and BIM ARC to promote ocean literacy and IMTA acceptance while preventing stakeholder fatigue through ecosystem integration.

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Iceland

Coordinated by DTU with local marine research partners, this Living Lab encourages citizen involvement in eDNA‑based biodiversity monitoring alongside traditional observation methods. It will be launched in June 2027 and will pilot citizen eDNA sampling and engage coastal communities, schools, and NGOs in participatory science. The lab collaborates with BioProtect and ANERIS projects and explores MINKA as a complement to eDNA data visualisation. It also supports Blue Schools engagement and aims to connect new monitoring technologies with community participation.

COMING SOON

REPLICATION SITES LIVING LABS

Lanzarote (Spain)

Based on the Gran Canaria model, this emerging Living Lab focuses on marine biodiversity monitoring and circular economy strategies, building awareness and behaviour change around blue economy issues. It uses MINKA primarily for biodiversity observation and species mapping, with tailored activities for schools, diving clubs, and local volunteers. The lab engages with marine reserves, diving centres, waste management authorities, and RedPROMAR collaborators, leveraging Gran Canaria networks and experiences to launch citizen science campaigns starting January 2026.

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Danube Delta

Coordinated by IZNASU and LPNU, this Living Lab focuses on biodiversity monitoring of invasive species and their interactions with native biota using citizen science and eDNA in wetlands, river‑delta ecosystems, and coastal areas. It emphasises youth engagement and environmental awareness in a post‑conflict context. MINKA has been translated into Ukrainian, and the lab is included in Ukraine’s European Research Area roadmap. It collaborates with UkrBIN for data sharing and explores algae integration in IMTA and blue economy prospects.

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Santorini (Greece)

Coordinated by IHA, this island‑focused Living Lab addresses marine litter prevention, blue circular economy, and youth engagement. It uses MINKA’s deliberative functions and will test marine litter recording through the platform. The lab involves Aegean Rebreath, Blue Cycle, the Municipality of Thira, the Port Authority, local schools, and HCMR. Activities include Blue Schools initiatives and CLE‑style projects like coastal cleanups, with co‑creation and training activities planned from 2026 onwards.

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Azores (Portugal)

Azores Living Lab is currently in its definition phase, drawing on PHAROS’ methodological framework, including the five-phase implementation journey, stakeholder engagement strategy, co‑creation approach, and MINKA integration, adapting each element to its own context and priorities. WP2 will support its uptake and growth. Azores replication site’s focus and scope will be set by terms of reference now being drafted with local stakeholders. These lines remain indicative and are subject to confirmation. The roadmap and activities will be announced once the terms of reference are agreed, with co-creation and training expected from 2026 onwards.

COMING SOON

Cape Verde

Cape Verde living lab is currently in its definition phase, drawing on PHAROS’ methodological framework, including the five‑phase implementation journey, stakeholder engagement strategy, co‑creation approach, and MINKA integration, adapting each element to its own context and priorities. WP2 will support its uptake and growth. Cape Verde replication site’s focus and scope will be set by terms of reference now being drafted with local stakeholders. Areas under consideration include ocean literacy through Blue Schools, community-based recording via MINKA, and the interaction between coastal tourism and the marine environment. These lines remain indicative and are subject to confirmation. The roadmap and activities will be announced once the terms of reference are agreed, with co-creation and training expected from 2026 onwards.

COMING SOON

Kenya (NORCE)

This living lab will draw on PHAROS’ methodological framework , including the five‑phase implementation journey, stakeholder engagement strategy, co‑creation approach, and MINKA integration, adapting each element to its own context and priorities.WP2 will support its launch and growth.

COMING SOON

LIVING LAB NEWS

Danube Delta Open Living Lab Launches, Turning Smartphones into Scientific Tools for Biodiversity Monitoring
 Danube Delta Open Living Lab Launches, Turning Smartphones into Scientific Tools for Biodiversity Monitoring 1024 768 PHAROS Project

The Danube Delta, Europe’s largest remaining natural wetland and a crucial ecological buffer between the Danube River and the Black Sea, is now at the heart of a new citizen science initiative. The Danube Delta Open Living Lab has officially launched, creating a cross-border network that invites everyone, from local residents and school groups to…

Pharos MarCoLab Ireland Mega Event, Living Lab in Kerry & Cork, 26–28 May 2026
 Pharos MarCoLab Ireland Mega Event, Living Lab in Kerry & Cork, 26–28 May 2026 660 360 PHAROS Project

MarCoLab Ireland invites you to the second PHAROS Mega Event, an exciting three-day event from 26 to 28 May 2026 in South-West Ireland (Kerry and West Cork). Join the Atlantic and Arctic Lighthouse community to promote marine restoration, ocean literacy, and the blue economy in Ireland. We’ll gather from 26-28 May in Kerry and Cork…

Islands Forge Path to Healthier Seas: Canary Islands Living Lab Launch and the PHAROS Mega Event
 Islands Forge Path to Healthier Seas: Canary Islands Living Lab Launch and the PHAROS Mega Event 1024 681 PHAROS Project

LAS PALMAS, Gran Canaria – For three days at the end of January 2026 (28-31), the Canary Islands became the focal point for a concerted effort to rethink how we protect and restore marine environments. The first PHAROS Mega Event, hosted by the MarCoLab initiatives on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, brought together a broad cross section…

The Heartbeat of the Ocean: How a Canarian School Turned a Musical Dream into a Blue Revolution
 The Heartbeat of the Ocean: How a Canarian School Turned a Musical Dream into a Blue Revolution 1024 575 PHAROS Project

January 30, 2026, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria: A public school in Gran Canaria has earned a recognition through PHAROS project after turning a teacher’s offhand comment into a full-scale musical about ocean conservation. “The Heartbeat of the Ocean,” written and performed by students at the CEIP Maestro Félix Santana, has shown how arts education can…

Citizens Become Scientists in Canary Islands “BioBlitz”
 Citizens Become Scientists in Canary Islands “BioBlitz” 1024 768 PHAROS Project

On 31 January 2026, families, snorkellers, and divers came with a purpose to document what lives in the water during the BioBlitz day.

Best Practices in Living Labs Report
 Best Practices in Living Labs Report 1024 594 PHAROS Project

The first “Best Practices in Living Labs Implementation” workshop, organised at the Clúster Marítimo de Canarias on January 30, 2026, and forming part of the PHAROS Project series, brought together a consortium of European projects.

MarCoLab Officially Launched: We can transform the coast of the Canary Islands
 MarCoLab Officially Launched: We can transform the coast of the Canary Islands 1024 768 PHAROS Project

Government officials, scientists, and industry leaders gathered at the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster (CMC) to inaugurate MarCoLab, a new “Living Lab” for the PHAROS project, with a simple yet powerful message: protecting the sea is no longer a task that can be left to experts alone. The press conference (on January 30, 2026) marked the official…

MINKA Session: From Citizen Observations to Publishable Research and Actionable Evidence
 MINKA Session: From Citizen Observations to Publishable Research and Actionable Evidence 1024 455 PHAROS Project

Discover MINKA’s citizen-generated data strengthen academic research and support evidence-based ecosystem management for public administrations & policy-makers.

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Project Consortium

The PHAROS Consortium consists of 24 scientific and research institutions from Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Ukraine, and Norway, all active at the European level, covering the spectrum of marine ecosystem restoration, ocean pollution prevention, and sustainable blue economy initiatives.

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