1. Steinar Bergseth (Coordinator ERA-MBT)
European Marine Board Policy Brief Marine Biotechnology - Advancing Innovation in Europe’s Bioeconomy
Steinar Bergseth (Coordinator ERA-MBT)

2. A EMB Policy Brief…
EMB policy briefs provide a high-level summary of the key research needs and priorities on topics of strategic and emerging importance in seas and ocean science from a European perspective.

3. Why Europen Marine Board & ERA-NET Marinebiotech?
EMB
The European Marine Board is a partnership of major national marine research institutes, funding organisations and national consortia of universities which aims to facilitate cooperation and coordination in marine science both in Europe and internationally
Has published 2 position papers on “Marine Biotechnology” (PP-4/2001 and PP-15/2010)
Has done stakeholder involvements through conferences and workshops with good connection to the EU-COM
ERA-MBT
A 4 year project to increase knowledge & expand on MBT activities
Delivered a strategic Research & Innovation roadmap in 2016
Funds 15 transnational projects with industry involvement
Involvement of stakeholders at workshops
Has a network of 19 marine focused funding agencies

4. Why Marine Biotechnology?
Europe’s sea basins have an immense biodiversity supporting:
Food production, ecosystem services and the possibility to develop new innovations for societal benefits (platform chemicals, neutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, … )
Underexplored, Understudied and Underexploited
Biotechnology needs to go marine!
By sustainable development of marine biotechnology:
The marine ecosystems can be better understood
The bioeconomy will be developed and the economical potential realised
The societal requirements can be integrated with ELSA / RRI / ABS issues
The Grand Challenges of our time will be addressed (environment, food supply, health, commodities)
Navicula vanhoeffenii
MabCent, Tromsø

5. What is Marine Biotechnology?
… an enabler …
«… the use of marine bioresources as the target or source
of biotecnology applications» (OECD)
Marine
Biotechnology

6. Biotechnology - enabling innovations from marine bioresources
21/11/2018

7. The Policy Brief
Marine biotechnology: Adding value to marine bioresources
Exploration of the marine environment
Biomass production and processing
Product innovation and differentiation
Enabling technologies and infrastructures
Policy support and stimulation

8. The Policy Brief
Marine biotechnology: Adding value to marine bioresources
Exploration of the marine environment
Biomass production and processing
Product innovation and differentiation
Enabling technologies and infrastructures
Policy support and stimulation

9. Enabling technologies and Infrastructure
Marine Biotechnology requires infrastructures across marine, life sciences and wider science domains:
Challenges:
Develop next generation sampling, analysis and screening
Establish trans-disciplinary self-sustained marine biotechnology research and innovation networks
Operationalize trans-national access to key infrastructures and facilities (including industry)
Strengthen marine graduate training across the MBT value chain
Networks already advancing these…..
EMBRIC, EMBRC, ELIXIR, …
This could go in just before the Recommendations?
Credit: Biological Station, Roscoff, France

10. The way forward – key action areas
Strengthen the use and development of new, advanced methods (the omics toolbox integrated with metagenomics and bioinformatics)
Enhance industry interaction and investment (create PPPs with biotech as an enterprise enabler)
Integrate expertise and access to infrastructures and e-infrastructures (establish pilot plants transdiciplinarity)
Tailor marine graduate training (develop the right skillsets for attractive careers)
Increase policy awareness and public literacy (understand the societal value of marine biomass)
Expand the exploration of our seas and ocean (understand the biodiversity and its potential)
Further engage marine scientists and biotechnologists in ocean governance (ensure sustainability, regulations and implementations in active dialogues with stakeholders)

11. A Cofund to develop the Blue Bioeconomy
The future…
A Cofund to develop the Blue Bioeconomy
Relevant marine calls in H2020 and FP9
Better transnational cooperations on marine biotech relevant infrastructures and resources (EMBRIC – EMBRC – JPI-Oceans, ELIXIR, …)
The role of marine regions

12. Contacts European Marine Board:;
ERA-MBT: ;

13. Thank you !