Marine microbiome for a healthy ocean and a sustainable blue bioeconomy

The ocean is the Earth’s largest microbiome. Microorganisms represent nearly 90% of the ocean biomass and largely determine the functioning and health of marine ecosystems. They also contain a great variety of metabolic pathways that can yield beneficial products and processes such as medicines, high value industrial compounds and environmental services. The marine microbiome is one of the fastest growing segments of the blue bioeconomy and its study is vital to advance the discovery, understanding, protection and harnessing of the ocean.

The purpose of the action is to develop novel tools and approaches to produce, analyse and use marine microbiome data for the discovery and production of high value sustainable industrial products/processes and/or environmental services that sustain the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Applicants should address:

• Scientific and technological challenges cutting across marine microbiome fields such as: (i) developing new methods to analyse and model microbiome communities and take full advantage of post-genomic technologies and bioinformatic analysis pipelines; (ii) developing standards and common methodologies that are coherent across marine microbiome exploration, monitoring and engineering, and can adapt to the capacity of the different sectors (science, industry, people and society); and (iii) optimising the use of (pre-existing) databases and research infrastructures by ensuring interoperability and enhanced networking.
• Bioprospecting to discover biological compounds or functions that are obtained only through complex interactions involving whole microbiome communities; targeted cultivation strategies beyond lab grown monocultures; manipulate and bioengineer microbiome products that ensure the sustainable use of marine bioresources; ensure open access and benefit sharing in balance with agreements and negotiations to protect intellectual property.

Collaboration between private industry and academia, and the link with end users and society are both essential. In addition, the professional skills and competences on marine microbiomes of those working and being trained to work within the blue bioeconomy should be improved.

Proposals should assess the risks and ethics related to microbiome science & technology and guarantee the preservation of biodiversity and the compliance with EU regulations on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation (ABS) in the EU. Fostering long-term preservation in biobanks, proper documentation of rights for redistribution and full traceability of their use and benefits.

Dissemination, public engagement and establishing links between researchers and the various end users should be central to the proposals. Projects should seek synergies and capitalise on the results of past or ongoing research. Cooperation with other selected proposals under this topic and complementary topics included in this work programme[[Another microbiome-related topic presented in this work programme is “HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-07: Microbiomes for bio-based innovation and environmental applications.”]] is encouraged.

International co-operation is strongly encouraged as a win-win scenario, while contributing to the European competitiveness and resilience.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.