Why the EU supports research and innovation in the ocean and seas
Europe and the world depend on the ocean and seas for food, oxygen, energy and water as a buffer to the impacts of global warming and to provide opportunities for new human activities.
Pollution, the combined impact of warming due to climate change, acidification and deoxygenation, as well as overexploitation are threatening the critical functioning and services provided by the ocean ecosystems and are undermining our ability to sustainably use the ocean, seas and coasts.
Research and innovation are critical to better monitor, understand, protect, preserve and harness our ocean and seas. We can also create sustainable value from traditional and new marine and aquatic value chains and sectors.
The EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030 is set to:
- protect and restore marine and freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems
- eliminate pollution
- make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
OceanEye
OceanEye is a new European Commission initiative to expand the EU's role in ocean observation. It aims to position the EU as the world's leading provider of ocean intelligence by contributing to 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 and securing 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies.
Ocean observation is critical for ocean protection and restoration, climate forecasting, blue economy activities such as fisheries and aquaculture, offshore energy, and shipping, as well as maritime security and defence.
Four pillars will guide the EU's approach – at EU level and globally – to translate these objectives into tangible outcomes:
- better governance for a more unified European approach;
- global leadership through an international alliance and partnerships;
- the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, innovation and industry growth;
- and engaging society and building skills.
Securing funding will serve as an essential enabler and ensure long-term ocean observation.
EU Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy
As announced in the European Ocean Pact and EU Water Resilience Strategy, the EU will also develop an EU Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy. The strategy aims to identify key R&I priorities for the next programming period. It seeks to address fragmentation of EU R&I initiatives and infrastructures. It also looks to optimise the innovation-to-investment journey and support an enabling framework. Knowledge sharing will be promoted, alongside skills development. Finally, the strategy fosters global cooperation while following a source-to-sea approach.
Funding opportunities
Calls for proposal related to marine resources are spread across numerous schemes in Horizon Europe
Some marine research related calls may be found in this programme.
Projects and results
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects.
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects.
Aquatic foods comprise animals and plants grown in or harvested from the ocean, lakes and rivers or sustainably farmed. Highly nutritious and with a smaller carbon footprint than land-based crops and livestock, foods from aquatic ecosystems are both good for us and our planet.
Across Europe and beyond, pressures on water, energy, food systems and ecosystems (WEFE) are intensifying, exposing the limitations of siloed governance. This CORDIS Results Pack highlights five cutting edge EU-funded Research and Innovation Actions that are building the necessary tools for a more holistic approach to resource management.
Success stories
As climate change accelerates, EU-funded researchers have mobilised to safeguard Europe’s underwater and coastal heritage with innovative methods and cutting-edge technology.
- Project locations
- Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal
EU-funded researchers are regenerating marine forest ecosystems, supporting their crucial role in maintaining ocean biodiversity and resilience.
- Project locations
- Italy, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Ireland, Norway, Spain
Collaboration and jobs
Search and view profiles of all organisations that have received funding via the funding and tender opportunities portal.
Partnerships with EU countries on marine research programmes.
Major facilities, resources and services used by the science community.
Researcher jobs in related fields.
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Scientific publications produced by the European Commission (JRC)
The Commission's Joint Research Centre compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access marine related ones here.
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions. All data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
All scientific publications from Horizon Europe and H2020 are accessible via OpenAIRE.
Access to marine data from the Copernicus programme.
Access to marine data in Europe.
Commission (JRC) data collection on fisheries
Everything you wanted to know about the Baltic Sea is now available in one place. You can access the Data services (open data service) and Learn and study (for schools)
From research and piloting to large scale deployment and upscaling across European ocean and waters.
Latest
Research and innovation news alert: Today, the European Commission has launched two calls for evidence to help shape the future Ocean and Water Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy. This key follow-up initiative is expected to be adopted by the end of 2026.
The initiative aims to position the EU as the world's leading provider of ocean intelligence by contributing to 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 and securing 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies.
