Overview
Seas and Oceans is recognized as a grand challenge providing an essential part of our wealth and well-being. Their vast resources offer a rare and significant potential for Blue Sustainable Growth echoing the Innovation Union. At the same time, the marine environment and its biodiversity are threatened by pressures from human activities and climate change. These challenges and opportunities call for an integrated marine and maritime scientific approach to support an effective and efficient ecosystem-based management of marine ecosystems and maritime activities.
With the adoption of its Integrated Maritime Policy, including its environmental and research pillars, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research, the EU has made huge strides towards ensuring an integrated, multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach, but cooperation has still not reached its full potential.
The overall aim of the CSA Oceans project is to provide dedicated support to JPI Oceans and its governing bodies to shorten the time required to reach its implementation phase.
CSA Oceans will respond to the following objectives:
- Further elaborate and consolidate the governance structure and procedures in JPI Oceans;
- Map and analyse the marine and maritime science landscape to identify the gaps, overlaps and needs in four key areas:
- Scientific gaps and overlaps
- Barriers to Innovation
- Science to Policy Mechanism
- Observations, Infrastructure and Capacity building
- Identify better ways of governance of EU marine and maritime research in support of the European maritime economy and related policies
- Develop a coherent Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and Implementation Plan (IPlan) on the basis of the mapping and gap analyses
- Develop effective and efficient methods of collaboration and joint activities and actions, peer review procedures, evaluation of joint programmes, cross-border funding
- Make proposals for cross-border activities and initiate at least one Pilot Action based on the established framework conditions
- Design a foresight process to be used by the JPI Oceans beyond the lifetime of the CSA Oceans project
- Develop and implement communication and dissemination activities and products for the CSA Oceans project towards relevant end-users (science, industry and civil society) and the general public via targeted means, in particular to increase the visibility and profile of the JPI Oceans and raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities it provides.
The study comprises of nine Work Packages (WPs) including project management:
- Work Package 1 will assure the overall coherence of the project outputs and ensure that the deliverables put forward correspond to the actual needs of the JPI Oceans. This will form the basis for Pilot Actions.
- Work Package 2 will gather information and analyse existing procedures and best practices for selecting, implementing and evaluating cross-border activities relevant to JPI Oceans needs and objectives. The aim is to consider the options and draft guidelines and procedures for the JPI Oceans cross-border activities. .
- Work Package 3 will conduct a comprehensive mapping and analysis of the existing marine research investments, strategies and programs relevant to JPI Oceans needs and objectives. The outputs of WP3 will highlight strengths, weaknesses, gaps and overlaps in marine scientific knowledge and research activities at EU level, which need to be addressed in the context of the JPI Oceans.
- Work Package 4 will identify key barriers to innovation and blue growth in Europe. To this end, WP4 will start with compiling an overview of available funding mechanisms in MS/AC participating in the JPI Oceans. Based on an analysis of IPR rules and legislative barriers, WP4 will recommend pragmatic and ready-to-use solutions to boost innovation. The main expected outcome of this WP is the identification of economic and technological trends and drivers in order to target the development of new technologies and eco-solutions that can boost competitiveness of European maritime industries.
- Work Package 5 will gather relevant information and evaluate existing and potential scientific advisory mechanisms and approaches for translating and transferring scientific knowledge to policy makers and advisors. WP5 will furthermore analyse best practices and routes for knowledge transfer including existing mechanisms for optional solutions.
- Work Package 6 will deliver optional solutions to overcome some of the major gaps, needs and overlaps related to marine research infrastructures, data collection, human resources and capacity building. This will allow to identify where JPI Oceans can add value by providing input to the development of the SRIA in WP1.
- Work Package 7 will deliver a foresight design process by identifying, analysing and discussing major relevant processes and institutions devoted to strategic foresight activities.
Funding
Results
Aligning research investments for blue growth and healthy seas and oceans, climate change and blue growth
Our oceans contain vast opportunities for blue growth and jobs, but oceans, seas and coasts are under strong pressures from human activities and climate change.
The aim of the 'CSA healthy and productive seas and oceans' (http://www.jpi-oceans.eu/csa-oceans (CSA OCEANS)) project is to aid the development of the Joint Programming Initiative on Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans). JPI Oceans is a high-level strategic platform for developing long-term marine and maritime research and technology in Europe.
CSA OCEANS will provide support for JPI Oceans and its governing bodies in order to shorten the time required to reach its implementation phase. The project will propose tools fit for the purpose of solving the challenge, procedures and structures for long-term governance and operational cooperation of the Joint Programming activities. In addition, it has made a draft Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) identifying strategic areas aimed at positioning JPI Oceans in the European research and innovation area in a way that ensures clear added value and cost efficiency.
SRIA partners have mapped the marine and maritime research landscape to identify gaps, to solve the key challenges. Stakeholder consultation involved the use of a unique questionnaire, a number of workshops and web consultation. This input was calibrated with a similar consultation of member countries on their key strategic priorities. It formed the basis for areas of possible alignment and action to be taken forward and which tools to be used as described in the draft Implementation plan (Iplan). An evaluation system has been recommended and brought into the Iplan to ensure that it is embedded in the design, as actions are taken forward by JPI Oceans.
Project partners have also developed a communication plan and a new website and produced a promotional video featuring key European policymakers. The work is used as the basis for the development and publication of a SRIA endorsed by the Management Board of JPI Oceans and endorsed by EU Member States.
A number of pilot actions have been developed to test out new tools to fit the purpose and demonstrate the added value and alignment ability of JPI Oceans. These small-scale test cases will provide potential templates for activities to be developed in full scale as actions are taken forward.
CSA OCEANS encourages a sustainable and knowledge-based maritime economy, good environmental status of the seas and ability to mitigate and respond to climate change.