Brussels, 02/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 May, the European Commission is due to adopt an action plan for innovation in the blue economy so as to help use ocean resources sustainably and drive growth and jobs in Europe.
The action plan, which is contained in a communciation presented by European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Maria Damanaki and European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, proposes a series of initiatives to gain better knowledge of the ocean, improve the skills needed to apply new technologies in the marine environment, and strengthen the coordination of marine research.
According to Commission sources, the action plan includes actions to: - deliver a digital map of the entire seabed of European waters by 2020; - create an online information platform, to be operational before the end of 2015, on marine research projects (including results); - set up a blue economy business and science forum; - encourage research, business and education actors to map out (by 2016) the needs and skills for tomorrow's workforce in the maritime sector; - examine the possibility of major players from the research, business and education community to form a knowledge and innovation community (KIC) (platform for the exchange of ideas and best practice in innovation) for the blue economy in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology .
With land and freshwater resources under pressure, and oceans covering more than three quarters of our planet, we will have to rely more and more on the oceans and seas to provide sources for food, medicine and energy, the Commission states. It adds that the maritime sector already employs 5.4 million people across Europe, working in professions as diverse as shipbuilding, tourism, and offshore wind energy. However, by 2020 this sector could employ 7 million people.
Major EU research funding exists to help stimulate innovation. Between 2007 and 2013, the Commission contributed an average of €350 million per year towards marine and maritime research through its seventh framework programme. Blue growth is a priority area in the new Horizon 2020 programme, with a specific €145 million budget for 2014-2015 alone. (LC)