The aim of the Build with Care project is to mainstream energy-efficient building design by raising the awareness and increasing the knowledge of the potential of energy savings. In collaboration with the building sector, a transnational strategy for increasing energy efficiency in buildings will be developed. Within the project, an education and information programme will be carried out to change behaviour in the complete building chain (from consumer to planner, from carpenter to architect); this will aid in setting up a transnational knowledge and information network.

Ships' ballast water is a main source of acute and chronic pollution in the North Sea. The project aims to improve the North Sea environment and economy by facilitating the ratification of the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC).

The implementation of the BWMC creates a new market for innovative products; Ballast Water Opportunity aims to support the NSR industry to enter this market. It encourages the ratification of the BWMC through reducing a major barrier: providing treatment and detection equipment.

As a result common certification standards for BWT will be defined, which will stimulate technological development to comply and enforce the BWMC.

Ballast Water Opportunity is also represented in the MTC cluster.

The project concerns BioChar (BC), which is a product of biomass-to-energy processing systems, and has as its aim in raising awareness and building confidence in BC as a way of capturing carbon and increasing soil quality and stability. In order to keep up with international competition it is mandatory to develop and compile a transnational NSR knowledge base which can be utilized by national and regional authorities, businesses and the general public.

Climate change in the North Sea Region is predicted to have a pronounced effect on annual rainfall patterns. Soils, rich in organic matter and biological life, function both as a water buffer during periods of drought and as drainage during periods of heavy rains. Biochar creates a triple win scenario for simultaneously producing bio-energy, permanently sequestering carbon, while increasing crop yields by improving soil and water quality.

Interoperable, standardised and adequate tools are important for coastal zone management and maritime safety. In respect to geographic data, it is a fundamental problem that data on the landward side is collected and maintained by topographic mapping or cadastral agencies and is utilised primarily for development, nature conservation etc., while sea data is collected by hydrographical survey services and focuses primarily on marine navigation issues. Furthermore, the collaboration between member states at national, regional and local level can be improved.

BLAST is also represented in the MTC cluster.