On 11 June 2004 the topic “The Ocean and Future Aspects of the European Marine Research Area” was put on the agenda in Brussels. 130 participants from the European Institutions and 20 countries met to discuss why and how marine science should be given high priority in the 7th Framework Programme. It is a pleasure for me to present the report from this International Seminar, it can now be downloaded here: Download ocean_report.pdf
Several of the keynote speakers pointed out the potential of marine science to significantly contribute to the objectives of the Lisbon strategy, to achieve sustainable economic growth. Ms. Kristin Clemet, the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, posted the challenge for Europe to take on a more active role in the exploration and management of the oceans.
Commissioner for Research, Mr. Philippe Busquin, underlined the need for a co-ordinated effort at both the national and the Community level, in order to combat the lack of appropriate structures and mechanisms for research, and to set up a research policy that will contribute to our common economic and social goals.
To realise the full potential of the marine sector, we have to overcome the problem that lies in a lack of integration, vision, focus and leadership, argued the Irish organisers of the EurOCEAN Conference 2004. Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute continued by proposing the following vision: “A thriving maritime economy in harmony with the environment supported by excellence in the European Research Area, ERA”.
One aim of the seminar which was successfully achieved, was to bring to Brussels the debate on the scope and the role of marine science in the 7th Framework Programme for Research. This debate will continue. The key message from the seminar was that the European Marine Research Area could become a break-through area for the ERA.
How?
Several ideas were submitted and you will find many of them in the report, but as a start there was expressed need for:
An integrated European Marine Science and Technology Programme;
A mechanism for co-ordinating marine science across all axes of the 7th Framework Programme;
A substantial budget for marine activities in the 7th Framework Programme.
On behalf of the Norwegian Research and Innovation Forum, I would like to thank all the contributors to this report. I hope many of you will read the report and will find it useful in your preparations for the next Framework Programme.
