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 ( ) 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 TourismTransportFishing … Sea (& land) based activities Marine Research & Maritime Technologies Understand & protect Develop & optimise - MSP Climate Change The ideal vision of the Maritime Policy EnergyAquacult

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 approach Regional 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 methods  services (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

Governance Scope: 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 Science based policy tools Sustainable managt of sea basins Political priorities Foresight, strategic research priorities Internalising GES Envt_performant maritime 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

Conclusion We 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)