CSA OCEANS - CSA Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans
Overview
Background & policy context:
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.
Objectives:
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.
Methodology:
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.
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