The European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research

Waddah Saab - DG RTD - European Commission

EMODNET Expert Group Brussels – 1 October 2009

Why marine and maritime?…

• One definition is:• ‘Marine’ refers to the physical, environmental

aspects and biological resources of the sea…• ‘Maritime’ refers to transport, offshore

technologies, energy…

• In fact most sea-based activities have both dimensions:

• Mariculture is marine (biological dimension) and maritime (farm equipment and management)

• Fishing is marine (stocks management) and maritime (fishing vessels)

• Dredging is a maritime activity with direct impact on the marine environment

• Wave & tidal energy are marine and maritime … etc.

• We are bound to use two words...

A short history

• May 2004: Galway declaration FP 7• March 2005: Commission (2005-2009)

strategic objectives • EU maritime policy thriving maritime economy…

environmentally sustainable … supported by excellence in marine scientific research, technology and innovation”

• December 2006: FP 7 decision marine science and technologies, a cross-cutting priority area

• June 2007: Aberdeen declaration• October 2007: EU Maritime Policy (Blue Book)

• June 2008: Marine Environment Framework Directive

• September 2008: Adoption of the EU strategy for marine and maritime research

• December 2008: the Council endorses it in its conclusions

Lessons from these past years

• From Galway to the marine/maritime research strategy, we have reached important scientific and policy objectives

• The marine science / maritime policy interface has worked, we have strengthened each other

• A vibrant marine scientific community is a political asset

• Need to consolidate achievements and implement the Strategy with, in particular:

• a more organised science / policy interface • a better understanding of the implications of the MSFD

The drivers for the Marine / Maritime research strategy

• The maritime economy is of crucial importance and we need to further develop it. But…

• there is an increasing environmental pressure from human activities and climate change…

• and an increasing competition for a limited marine space

Marine Ecosystems

GES

Tourism Transport Fishing…

Sea (& land) based activities

Marine Research & Maritime Technologies

Understand & protect

Develop & optimise - MSP

Climate Change

The ideal visionof the Maritime Policy

Energy Aquacult

How far are we from this ideal world?

1. We need more marine research infrastructure to observe & understand impact of human activities & climate change on the marine environment

2. Issues are inter-disciplinary and our research programmes are thematic need for integration of knowledge

3. Seas are shared & major research infrastructure and programmes require funding beyond the capacity of single member states need for more synergy

4. The Commission is used to interact with well-defined scientific and industrial communities we must now deal with an inter-disciplinary, multi-sector scientific & industrial communities need for new governance

The 4 areas mentioned provide broadly the structure of the marine / maritime research strategy

EU and Regional approachRegional scale: *Envt coherence*Economic and social integration*Regional conventions

European scale:*MSFD / EEA *Big technological challenges (e.g. deep sea)*Big infrastructure prog (ARGO, EMSO) *Harmonised methodsservices (GMES)

Capacity Building

Scope:• Support essential research & observation infrastructures

(ESFRI and others) / optimise use of existing ones Marine data infrastructure, research vessels…

• Explore new financing schemes combining various sources of investment

• Promote interdisciplinary skills and innovation capacities

In 2009: Identify funding opportunities (in particular structural funds)

and promote their use for marine research infrastructure EMODNET Action Plan and pilot projects for seabed mapping

In the longer term: Structure and mechanisms for the long term management of

EU marine research infrastructure

Knowledge integration

Scope:• Identify and address cross-thematic research objectives

coordinated calls / joint calls• Provide for integration and efficient use of marine data

bases• Foster knowledge & technology transfer ( maritime

clusters) Between maritime industries and marine science Between different maritime sectors…

In 2009: Joint calls on cross-thematic marine / maritime topics EMODNET Action Plan EMAR²RES project to strengthen cooperation between

maritime industries and marine science

In the longer term: Use the Marine and Maritime Research ‘Forum’ to boost

integration A marine / maritime Knowledge and Innovation Community

under the European Institute of Technology (EIT)?

Tools for integration

• Knowledge integration is the objective, e.g. overall assessment of the GES of the seas

• Knowledge integration can be induced when conceiving research programmes

• It can also take place after completion of research projects through analytical review

• ‘Joint Calls’ is a tool, not a panacea• It is necessary to start joint calls, learn from the experience and adjust

them• Eventually we need to make the most appropriate use of all instruments

• The implementation of the MSFD will require a considerable effort of knowledge integration

• In the very short term, to help DG ENV understand pressures and identify criteria for GES

• In the longer term, to understand interactions between criteria, provide guidance for overall assessment, integrate between different scales (local / regional)

Synergies

Scope: • Promote synergies at national & regional level

Mobilise national & regional funding to reach critical mass to address marine research challenges

• Promote private investments through activities of ETPs and other industry-driven initiatives

In 2009: Approval of new « over-arching » marine ERA-Net BONUS art 169 initiative in the Baltic EATIP Follow up Joint Programming by Member States

In the longer term: Joint programming in marine / maritime topics? Public / Private partnership e.g. in relation to clean ship? Or Initiative related to offshore / deep sea technologies and

platforms?

Need to articulate the 2 levels

GovernanceScope:• Organise the interaction within and with a broad,

multinational, multi-disciplinary scientific and industrial community

• Enhanced and regular dialogue between marine science, policy-makers & maritime industries

In 2009: Support action to strengthen cooperation between maritime

industries and marine science community Science / industry / policy dialogue started this year at the

European Maritime Day in Rome – Next Year in Gijon - Spain Scientific support to the implementation of the MFSD

In 2010 and later: Forum of scientific and industrial stakeholders: promote

consensus on priorities, integrate knowledge, disseminate results…

Structured science / policy interface mechanism in relation to MFSD

Science/Policy/Industry triangle

Marine scientific

community

Policy makers

Structured and strategic support

Structured and strategic knowledge <-> GES, MSP, CFP

Maritime Industries

Scie

nce

base

d po

licy

tool

s

Sust

aina

ble

man

agt o

f sea

bas

ins

Political priorities

Foresight, strategic research priorities

Internalising GES

Envt_performant

maritim

e technologies

International dimension

Scope: • International scientific cooperation with

neighbours in shared seas• International scientific cooperation and

global ocean perspective in large international programmes and infrastructure projects

In 2009, focus on:The Mediterranean (long term framework for

regional cooperation)The Arctic / Atlantic (USA, Canada, Russia…)

In the longer term:Commission to take more global perspective (IOC…)Take a leading role in the global assessment of

Oceans

Role of Commission

• Coordinator / facilitator• Use FP 7 and other community (ERDF) instruments

to implement the strategy by incremental steps• Monitor progress and adjust implementation

• Animator • Use the impetus provided by the EU maritime

policy, the MSFD (GES), CFP reform• Launch or relay ideas with potential long term

impact (JP, structured science / policy interface in relation to MSFD / GES)

• Support national / regional initiatives and promote synergies between them

ConclusionWe can conceptualise the objectives of the marine

and maritime research strategy as:• Understanding the GES of our seas• Maximising the value we extract from our seas in a way that

is compatible with the GES

In the short term, focus on:• Implementing «The Ocean of tomorrow» and preparing

possible future joint calls• Exploring possibilities of funding marine research

infrastructure with structural funds• Bonus 169 and over-arching marine ERA-Net• Support action to the Marine and Maritime Research Forum

• In the longer term:• Develop the «Forum» and design a structured science /

policy interface in relation to MSFD • Clean Ship and / or deep sea challenge initiative • International dimension (Mediterranean, Atlantic/Arctic, IOC

and the global assessment)