Open Innovation Collaborative Action
Open Innovation for Mediterranean Island Sustainability
Connecting Local Challenges with Innovative Solutions
The Open Innovation Collaborative Action connects sustainability challenges identified on target Mediterranean islands with innovators able to propose technical and technological solutions. Through the Innovation Co-Lab Platform, companies, SMEs, startups, and research centres can submit and co-develop proposals that support the islands’ transition toward climate neutrality.
A Space Where Challenges Meet Solutions
The Open Innovation process starts from real challenges identified during the Rooting Labs. These challenges guide a Call for Solutions designed to attract proposals from organisations working on renewable energy, ecosystem-based approaches, sustainable mobility, circular resource use, and climate adaptation.
Objectives
- Match Local Needs with Innovative Solutions
- Enable Co-Development of Feasible Proposals
- Promote Transnational Collaboration
- Strengthen Capacity and Knowledge Sharing
How It Works
The Open Innovation Collaborative Action follows a structured five-phase process designed to maximize collaboration and impact:
- Challenge Identification - Local stakeholders in pilot islands (Brač, Elba, and Crete) identify critical sustainability challenges in areas like sustainable mobility, renewable energy, waste and water management, and low-carbon industries
- Call for Solutions - An open call invites businesses, innovators, and researchers to submit proposals addressing the published challenges
- Collaboration Lab - Selected participants engage in interactive workshops to refine and develop their ideas with expert guidance and stakeholder input
- Evaluation Process - A dedicated committee assesses the most promising solutions based on feasibility, impact, and alignment with sustainability goals
- Business Forum - A culminating event where innovators showcase their solutions, co-create implementation plans, and connect with potential partners and investors
Challenge Areas
The activity focuses on addressing key sustainability challenges across multiple domains critical to island decarbonization:
- Sustainable mobility and transportation solutions
- Renewable energy generation and storage
- Circular economy and waste management
- Water resource management and conservation
- Low-carbon industrial processes
- Sustainable agriculture and food systems
- Energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure
Who Can Participate
The Open Innovation Action welcomes diverse participants including innovative companies, startups and SMEs with sustainability solutions, research centers and universities, technology providers, social enterprises, and individual innovators and entrepreneurs. This inclusive approach ensures a rich diversity of perspectives, expertise, and innovative approaches to solving island sustainability challenges.
Expected Outcomes
Through the Innovation Co-Lab Platform, the CO2 PACMAN project aims to achieve:
- Viable, market-ready solutions addressing real island sustainability challenges
- Strong partnerships between innovators and island stakeholders
- Pilot implementations demonstrating solution effectiveness in real-world contexts
- Business opportunities and investment connections for promising innovations
- Knowledge transfer and capacity building across Mediterranean island communities
- Scalable models for open innovation in climate action
Collaborative Innovation
A defining feature of the Innovation Co-Lab Platform is its collaborative approach. Rather than simply collecting solutions, the platform facilitates meaningful interaction between challenge owners and solution providers throughout the innovation process. This co-creation methodology ensures that solutions are not only technically sound but also contextually appropriate, socially acceptable, and economically viable for island implementation.