DANUBE4all at the European Ocean Days: Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration

Content by Pippa De Kinder

(Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries)

On March 4th, DANUBE4all proudly took part in the third annual Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters forum in Brussels. Three DANUBE4all colleagues Gabriela Costea (IGB Berlin), Pippa De Kinder (IGB Berlin), and Lisa Waldenberger (BOKU) joined up with other innovators and changemakers to present tangible solutions driving the mission forward.

As part of the Danube River and Black Sea Lighthouse, we joined forces with our partners — Restore4Life, DALIA, Sundanse, DaWetRest, iNNOSED, and EcoDaLLi — to showcase our work in an engaging and interactive exhibition space. Despite the compact setting, we maximised our impact, offering visitors a hands-on experience with our projects.

Our exhibition featured:

1. An interactive website where attendees could explore our initiatives, watch introductory videos, and even play a puzzle game to piece together the Danube basin.

   
   

2. Tangible project outcomes, including:

   • A model of the REXDAN research vessel 

   • A sediment tower from Sundanse

   • Upcycled river waste products from Riversaver 

   • The children’s book "Lau Laughs Again", created by DANUBE4all

     
     
     
     

     

     Image of children's book 'Lau Laugh's Again.

     
     
     
     

Our collective exhibition highlighted three key themes: technical innovation, citizen empowerment, and knowledge exchange.

Beyond the display, this event provided a valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate, and reinforce the importance of teamwork in restoring our waters. The passion and dedication of our lighthouse partners demonstrated that working together is the key to success!

For more information on the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters Forum 2025 including the European Commission key takeaways click here