Brussels, 03/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 September, the European Commission adopted a communication on the setting in place of a strategy for marine and maritime research. Research and innovation can be key to reconciling the sometimes competing goals of sustainable economic growth and environmental preservation in sea-based activities. This European strategy for marine and maritime research is one of the main planks of the measures to be taken to set in place an integrated maritime policy for the EU.
The strategy proposed by the Commission comprises two streams of action: - improving integration of knowledge and research; - the creation of new forms of governance of research. The Commission's role in the implementation of this strategy will consist, in the first stage, of using all Community instruments, including the seventh framework programme of research, as a lever to turn the stated objectives into reality and, secondly, to facilitate a coordinated approach between the Member States of the EU.
As regards the actions to be taken to break the traditional boundaries between science and the formulation of policies, scientific disciplines and industrial sectors (the stream concerning the integration of knowledge), the Commission proposes a number of concrete actions, such as: - reinforcing capacities: construction of new research and observation infrastructure (ocean observatories, specialised research vessels, underwater technologies, satellite systems for observation of the oceans, databases and information portals, etc), or the creation of new higher education models in the marine/maritime field (by means of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the EIT, for example); - stepping up integration: promoting interdisciplinary research activities on cross-cutting themes (such as the impact of human activities on coastal and marine ecosystems and the protection and exploitation of marine biodiversity) and the combination of various means of funding; - promoting synergies in research between the Member States, the regions and the Community (developing ERA-NET actions, such as MARINERA, MARIFISH, AMPERA, CIRCLE and using the "Waterborne" technological platform).
The Commission proposes to bring in a new model of governance: a "forum" constituting a "viable long-term partnership" and bringing together existing networks and all key partners in marine and maritime research and the corresponding industrial sectors. The objective of this is to update and implement research priorities. (L.C./trans.fl)