Black Sea Universities Network

Seminar on Green Transition & Circular Economy, 14–15 May, 2026

The Seminar was organized by Murfatlar Town Hall within the plan of activities of the project “Clean Areas, Green and Open Streets” (BSB00108), financed through the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin 2021–2027 Programme.
The event brought together representatives of local authorities from Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.

SDSN Romania was represented by Dr. Elena Preda, Executive Director, and Prof. Dr. Eden Mamut, Co‑Chair. Dr. Preda presented SDSN Romania’s activities in the fields of green transition and circular economy, as well as the launch of a new partnership initiative connecting universities and local authorities to support the development of strategies, policies and implementation measures for circularity.

Mrs. Luminița Bălălău, Director within the Department for Sustainable Development of the Romanian Government, outlined the national regulatory framework, the current status of the Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan, available funding programmes, and concrete examples of successful initiatives implemented by Romanian municipalities.

Prof. Mamut delivered the training sessions on Green Transition and Circular Economy, highlighting European and regional developments, the link between green transition and industrial competitiveness, regenerative economy concepts, emerging wellbeing and human security approaches, and practical implementation examples.

Participants explored methods for drafting circular economy action plans, green public procurement, urban planning tools, sustainable mobility, waste management, renewable energy and hydrogen‑based solutions. They also engaged in hands‑on exercises addressing plastic waste reduction, biomass and renewable energy valorisation, and circular approaches to abandoned vehicles.

Prof. Osman Bülent Zulfikar, BSUN President and Rector of Istanbul University, gave a keynote speech in the opening of the Digital Surgery Summit, oragnized at Istanbul University on May 20th, 2026.

The Summit is addressing the transformative power of robotic surgery, artificial intelligence, and telesurgery in the medical world, with expert figures in the field.

📢 Blue Education Framework Workshop IV is coming up!

The BlueLightS Policy Workshop Series continues with a session dedicated to Teacher Training & Professional Development within the European Blue Education Framework.

This workshop will explore how educators can be supported in bringing ocean and water literacy into the classroom, from training approaches to practical tools and capacity-building strategies. 🏫

Join us to exchange ideas, learn from different perspectives, and contribute to shaping this key chapter of the Framework.

📅 28 May
🕙 10:00-11:30 CEST

🔗 Learn more & register: https://blue-lights.eu/blue-education-workshop-iv-teacher-training-professional-development/

“Geopolitics in the coming decades must begin with the essential goal of ensuring human security for every citizen of the planet, wherever they may be.”

On May 6, 2026, the SDSN Networks Presidents’ Meeting took place at Palazzo Taverna in Rome, in a hybrid format that brought together presidents and co-presidents of the national and regional networks within the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

During the panel dedicated to global geopolitical changes, Prof. Eden Mamut, Secretary General of the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) and Co-Chair of SDSN Romania, addressed the geopolitical situation in the Black Sea region, emphasizing the severe consequences of the prolonged Russia–Ukraine war on all countries in the region, including the field of education.

In his remarks, Prof. Mamut underlined that future geopolitical architectures should be built around the fundamental objective of guaranteeing human security, as defined by the United Nations, for every citizen worldwide. He also highlighted the urgent need for more sustainable economic models that address growing global inequalities and environmental degradation.

On this occasion, the organization of ECOS 2026 in Constanța, Romania (June 28 – July 3, 2026) was officially announced. The conference will be dedicated to the renowned scientist Nicolas Georgescu-Roegen, born in Constanța in 1906, internationally recognized for integrating environmental protection perspectives into economic science.

The SDSN meeting in Rome also provided an opportunity to assess the current progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting achievements to date and discussing initiatives aimed at accelerating global sustainable development efforts.

SDSN is a global initiative launched in 2012 under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, with the mission of mobilizing scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development.

📣 The 3rd Call for Blue Schools is now open!

Are you a school ready to bring ocean and water topics into your classroom? 🌍

We are launching the third Blue Challenges call, supporting schools across Europe to develop impactful projects that strengthen Ocean and Water Literacy and contribute to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.”

💡 What’s in it for you?
🔹 Up to €3,000 funding per project
🔹 Support for hands-on, engaging learning activities
🔹 Opportunity to join and strengthen the Network of European Blue Schools

We’re looking for innovative and inspiring projects that connect students with real-world challenges, from pollution and biodiversity to climate change and sustainable oceans.

📅 Deadline to apply: 18 September 2026 (17:00 CET)

🔗 Apply now: https://blue-lights.eu/grants-for-schools/

Let’s empower the next generation to protect our ocean and waters 🌱

BlueLights Project

Stakeholders Participation to the working visit to Thess INTEC - Thessaloniki Innovation & Technology Center, between March 31st - April 03rd, 2026. The visit was organised under the frame of the Blue Gates Project- Empowering Blue and Smart Transformation of the Black Sea Basin - BSB00189, funded under the Interreg VI-B Black Sea Basin Programme.

Blue Gates

On April 2nd, 2026, it was signed the MoU between the Black Sea Universities Network and Thess INTEC - Thessaloniki Innovation & Technology Center.

The visit of the Romanian delegation to Thess INTEC was organised under the frame of the Blue Gates Project- Empowering Blue and Smart Transformation of the Black Sea Basin - BSB00189, funded under the Interreg VI-B Black Sea Basin Programme.

Blue Gates

Photo credits: AΠΕ- ΜΠΕ / Achilleas Chiras