Why the EU supports research and innovation in oceans and seas
Europe and the world depend on the ocean and seas for food, as a buffer to the impacts of global warming and to provide opportunities for new human activities.
Marine littering, pollution, climate change and overexploitation are threatening our ability to sustainably use the ocean, seas and coasts.
Research and innovation are critical so we can 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, and
- make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
Marine and aquatic research and innovation is part of the EU's bioeconomy strategy
Policy focus
Funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
Calls for proposal related to marine resources are spread across numerous schemes in Horizon Europe
LIFE programme
Some marine research related calls may be found in this programme.
European structural and investment funds
Marine research related calls may be found in this programme, particularly in the European maritime and fisheries fund.
Projects and results
Research project database (CORDIS)
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects.
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects.
Information sharing platform on marine and maritime research
The platform, currently in its pilot stage, shares available research data and key results from EU funded projects related to the marine and maritime research sectors.
Projects for policy - Blue Economy
Blue Economy was one of first three P4P pilot showcasing how research and innovation project results shape policy making.
Results pack on ocean plastics
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results.
Results pack on seafood
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results.
Results pack on algae
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results.
Results pack on better marine stewardship
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results.
Results pack on microbiome research
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results.
Results pack on the Black Sea
A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results
Restore our ocean and waters
A synergy info pack by CORDIS
Collaboration and jobs
Find project partners
Search and view profiles of all organisations that have received funding via the funding and tender opportunities portal.
Joint programming initiatives
Partnerships with EU countries on marine research programmes.
Research infrastructures
Major facilities, resources and services used by the science community.
Jobs (EURAXESS)
Researcher jobs in related fields.
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Scientific publications
Scientific publications produced by the European Commission (JRC)
Marine research tools and databases
The Commission's Joint Research Centre compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access marine related ones here.
EU Open Data Portal
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions. All data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
OpenAIRE
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE.
Copernicus
Access to marine data from the Copernicus programme.
iMarine
Data e-Infrastructure initiative for fisheries management and conservation
Pangaea
Data publisher for earth and environmental science.
SeaDataNet
Ocean and marine data management infrastructure.
EMODnet
Access to marine data in Europe.
Fisheries data collection
Commission (JRC) data collection on fisheries
MarineFinland.fi
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)
Latest
Blue Economy: launch of ‘EU Blue Champions’ scheme to support innovative projects helping to restore the ocean and waters
The European Commission, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), is launching the new pilot scheme ‘EU Blue Champions’. It will be supported by the BlueInvest platform.
Horizon Europe: EU Missions on track to meet their 2030 ambition towards a greener and healthier continent
During their first two years, the EU Missions in Horizon Europe have supported the Commission's work on the European Green Deal, making Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.
Galway Statement anniversary: a decade of marine research cooperation along and across the Atlantic Ocean
The Galway Statement is a cooperation agreement to join forces on Atlantic Ocean research, increase the knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean and build a common path for sustainable management of this shared resource.
EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters': €106 million for 18 new projects for protection, conservation, depollution and innovation
The projects gather over 370 beneficiaries from 36 countries, including SMEs, research institutions, local authorities, schools and businesses.
