Final Report Summary - MARCOM+ (Towards an integrated marine and maritime science community)
Executive summary:
The result of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)-funded project MARCOM+ is the establishment of the European marine and maritime science and technology forum. The forum will be operational during a two-year transitional phase 2012-13. It has the task of creating and sustaining effective interactions with the broader stakeholders groups (European Member States, regional authorities, industry and civil society). ICES chairs the Forum in its initial phase. The vision of the forum is based on the premise that no matter how effective and efficient individual science networks may be, their value is multiplied through the synergy that comes with cross-sector cooperation. The vision is a marine and maritime science network which provides a forum for dialogue between Europe's marine and maritime science organisations. The mission is to facilitate identification, definition of cross-cutting topics across the entire marine / maritime science and technology community; through, e.g.: undertaking foresight analysis, assessing societal, governmental, and industrial needs and assist in mobilising actors and resources to support identified cross-cutting topics.
The European research networks dealing with the marine and maritime research sectors transport and maritime industries, ocean energy, tourism, coastal development, security, living resources, fisheries and aquaculture have decided to join forces and form the forum in order to take further steps in integrating their science activities. It consists of the following networks:
- Coastal and Marine Union.
- Waterborne Technology Platform.
- European Council for Maritime Applied Research and Development Association.
- European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform.
- European Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation.
- European Fisheries Technology Platform.
- European Global Ocean Observing System.
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
- Marine Board.
- European Network of Marine Research Institutes and Stations.
- The Mediterranean Science Commission; the European Fisheries Technology Platform.
- The European Ocean Energy Association.
The main partners of the forum mirror the European maritime and marine research communities and industries and represent the major networks and pan-European research organisations. The forum will continue its project core activity of guiding the implementation of the European strategy for marine and maritime research and serving the two-way feedback needs of dialogue between marine science and maritime policy. Future activities will be based on the agreed vision and the mission of the forum. For the future work of the Forum, areas of common interests were identified which will be the focus of the initial post-project working period. The forum is open to interested research networks. It will operate in close consultation with any follow-up activities foreseen by its sister FP7-funded project support action to initiate cooperation between the Communities of European marine and maritime research and science 'EMAR2RES'.
More and updated information is available at the MARCOM+ web portal (www.MarineMaritimeScienceForum.eu).
Project context and objectives:
Key European networks representing marine and maritime science and technology development joined forces to test and establish appropriate cooperation mechanisms on various stakeholder levels. The consortium itself comprised of the following 10 networks:
- Coastal and Marine Union.
- Community of European Shipyards' Associations (representing the WATERBORNE technology platform).
- European Council for Maritime Applied Research and Development Association.
- European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform.
- European Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation.
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (representing the European Global Ocean Observing System).
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
- Marine Board of the European Science Foundation.
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (representing the European Network of Marine Research Institutes and Stations).
- Mediterranean Science Commission.
The overall objective of the MARCOM+ project was to propose a new, integrated governance and consultancy model, which will take form of a forum (the European marine and maritime science and technology forum).
In order to achieve this, the consortium investigated the European research landscape and relevant policy scene, developed areas of (marine and maritime) common interest as well as analysed successful and failed cooperation models. This was performed by desktop studies and consultations with experts and stakeholders (including conferences, technical meetings, open and e-fora). Numerous regional case marine / maritime cooperation case studies were analysed, tools for regional research governance were investigated and assessed. The project logo, web portal, factsheet and poster were compiled. In order to engage experts and organisations to participate in the MARCOM work an informative article and video have been produced and populated amongst stakeholder communities. The MARCOM+ initiative was presented during numerous events (including interdisciplinary online fora) in which stakeholders from science, policy, NGOs and industry took part. This consortium?s work was supported by five expert panels (with participation of experts from various stakeholder organisations):
- the interdisciplinary dialogue across science panel;
- the technology transfer panel;
- the policy interface panel;
- the research infrastructure development panel;
- the foresight panel.
The work resulted in establishment of the European marine and maritime science and technology forum. The network group has been enlarged by the following two organisations (which participated in the work of MARCOM panels and expressed willingness to officially join the MARCOM initiative):
- the European fisheries technology platform;
- the European Ocean Energy Association.
Establishment of the Forum was officially announced during the 'Fish and ships marine and maritime science partnership in Europe', 'Achievements and future roadmap' conference in March 2012.
The first two-year (2012-2013) testing phase the partners will resource the forum with in-kind contributions, such as sending representation to the steering group and relevant working groups meetings as well as affiliated conferences used as platform, and thereby kick-start activities, adding time and effort into it. The forum's membership fee has been considered. Until the steering committee decides otherwise any given financial contributions will be on voluntary basis.
The forum is open to interested parties. Networks outside the current group will be welcomed to join the forum (decisions will be taken by the forum's steering committee on individual basis).
The MARCOM+ project coordinator (Dr Adi Kellermann) became the forum's chair for the initial two year period. He will, together with the project manager, continue providing the secretariat function and serve as coordinator to collate and disseminate Forum findings and provide for website functionality during the first phase. The project web portal will be transformed into the forum's web portal in summer 2012. All the project deliverables and documents will remain available online.
Project results:
The main result of the project is development of the new pan-European marine / maritime research governance model - 'The European marine and maritime science and technology forum'. In order to achieve this, the consortium investigated the European research landscape and relevant policy scene, developed areas of marine and maritime common interests as well as successful and failed cooperation models. This was performed by desktop studies and consultations with experts and stakeholders (including conferences, technical meetings, open and e-fora). Numerous regional marine / maritime cooperation case studies were analysed, tools for regional research governance were investigated and assessed. The group of networks was joined by the European fisheries technology platform and the European Ocean Energy Association. The following vision, mission and objectives have been agreed upon for the established Forum:
Vision
A marine and maritime science community which provides a forum for dialogue between Europe's marine and maritime science organisations, and enhanced research capability as: The MARCOM Forum is based on the premise that no matter how effective and efficient individual science networks may be, their value is enhanced through the synergy that comes with strategic concentration of work.
Mission
- facilitate identification, definition of cross-cutting topics across the entire marine / maritime science and technology community; through, e.g.:
i) undertaking foresight analysis;
ii) assessing societal, governmental, and industrial needs.
- assist in mobilising actors and resources to support identified cross-cutting topics;
- communicate the outcome and benefits of the forum's work amongst the partners and to stakeholders and governments.
Objectives
- bring added value to funded research at the European level by facilitating improved collaboration between marine and maritime science communities;
- operate a long-term and sustainable platform (the forum), based on shared interests and shared ownership and leadership, supporting the identification of priorities and facilitating the implementation of cross-cutting, inter-disciplinary challenge based research;
- provide a forum for effective interactions between the marine and maritime science communities and broader stakeholders group (Member States, regional authorities, industry and civil society).
Potential impact:
The European marine and maritime science and technology forum will continue its project core activity of guiding the implementation of the European strategy for marine and maritime research and serving the two-way feedback needs of dialogue between marine science and maritime policy. It will remain open for any kind of fruitful involvement and will allow stakeholders from outside of the core network group to stream their voices when necessary.
List of websites: www.MarineMaritimeScienceForum.eu
The result of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)-funded project MARCOM+ is the establishment of the European marine and maritime science and technology forum. The forum will be operational during a two-year transitional phase 2012-13. It has the task of creating and sustaining effective interactions with the broader stakeholders groups (European Member States, regional authorities, industry and civil society). ICES chairs the Forum in its initial phase. The vision of the forum is based on the premise that no matter how effective and efficient individual science networks may be, their value is multiplied through the synergy that comes with cross-sector cooperation. The vision is a marine and maritime science network which provides a forum for dialogue between Europe's marine and maritime science organisations. The mission is to facilitate identification, definition of cross-cutting topics across the entire marine / maritime science and technology community; through, e.g.: undertaking foresight analysis, assessing societal, governmental, and industrial needs and assist in mobilising actors and resources to support identified cross-cutting topics.
The European research networks dealing with the marine and maritime research sectors transport and maritime industries, ocean energy, tourism, coastal development, security, living resources, fisheries and aquaculture have decided to join forces and form the forum in order to take further steps in integrating their science activities. It consists of the following networks:
- Coastal and Marine Union.
- Waterborne Technology Platform.
- European Council for Maritime Applied Research and Development Association.
- European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform.
- European Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation.
- European Fisheries Technology Platform.
- European Global Ocean Observing System.
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
- Marine Board.
- European Network of Marine Research Institutes and Stations.
- The Mediterranean Science Commission; the European Fisheries Technology Platform.
- The European Ocean Energy Association.
The main partners of the forum mirror the European maritime and marine research communities and industries and represent the major networks and pan-European research organisations. The forum will continue its project core activity of guiding the implementation of the European strategy for marine and maritime research and serving the two-way feedback needs of dialogue between marine science and maritime policy. Future activities will be based on the agreed vision and the mission of the forum. For the future work of the Forum, areas of common interests were identified which will be the focus of the initial post-project working period. The forum is open to interested research networks. It will operate in close consultation with any follow-up activities foreseen by its sister FP7-funded project support action to initiate cooperation between the Communities of European marine and maritime research and science 'EMAR2RES'.
More and updated information is available at the MARCOM+ web portal (www.MarineMaritimeScienceForum.eu).
Project context and objectives:
Key European networks representing marine and maritime science and technology development joined forces to test and establish appropriate cooperation mechanisms on various stakeholder levels. The consortium itself comprised of the following 10 networks:
- Coastal and Marine Union.
- Community of European Shipyards' Associations (representing the WATERBORNE technology platform).
- European Council for Maritime Applied Research and Development Association.
- European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform.
- European Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation.
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (representing the European Global Ocean Observing System).
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
- Marine Board of the European Science Foundation.
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (representing the European Network of Marine Research Institutes and Stations).
- Mediterranean Science Commission.
The overall objective of the MARCOM+ project was to propose a new, integrated governance and consultancy model, which will take form of a forum (the European marine and maritime science and technology forum).
In order to achieve this, the consortium investigated the European research landscape and relevant policy scene, developed areas of (marine and maritime) common interest as well as analysed successful and failed cooperation models. This was performed by desktop studies and consultations with experts and stakeholders (including conferences, technical meetings, open and e-fora). Numerous regional case marine / maritime cooperation case studies were analysed, tools for regional research governance were investigated and assessed. The project logo, web portal, factsheet and poster were compiled. In order to engage experts and organisations to participate in the MARCOM work an informative article and video have been produced and populated amongst stakeholder communities. The MARCOM+ initiative was presented during numerous events (including interdisciplinary online fora) in which stakeholders from science, policy, NGOs and industry took part. This consortium?s work was supported by five expert panels (with participation of experts from various stakeholder organisations):
- the interdisciplinary dialogue across science panel;
- the technology transfer panel;
- the policy interface panel;
- the research infrastructure development panel;
- the foresight panel.
The work resulted in establishment of the European marine and maritime science and technology forum. The network group has been enlarged by the following two organisations (which participated in the work of MARCOM panels and expressed willingness to officially join the MARCOM initiative):
- the European fisheries technology platform;
- the European Ocean Energy Association.
Establishment of the Forum was officially announced during the 'Fish and ships marine and maritime science partnership in Europe', 'Achievements and future roadmap' conference in March 2012.
The first two-year (2012-2013) testing phase the partners will resource the forum with in-kind contributions, such as sending representation to the steering group and relevant working groups meetings as well as affiliated conferences used as platform, and thereby kick-start activities, adding time and effort into it. The forum's membership fee has been considered. Until the steering committee decides otherwise any given financial contributions will be on voluntary basis.
The forum is open to interested parties. Networks outside the current group will be welcomed to join the forum (decisions will be taken by the forum's steering committee on individual basis).
The MARCOM+ project coordinator (Dr Adi Kellermann) became the forum's chair for the initial two year period. He will, together with the project manager, continue providing the secretariat function and serve as coordinator to collate and disseminate Forum findings and provide for website functionality during the first phase. The project web portal will be transformed into the forum's web portal in summer 2012. All the project deliverables and documents will remain available online.
Project results:
The main result of the project is development of the new pan-European marine / maritime research governance model - 'The European marine and maritime science and technology forum'. In order to achieve this, the consortium investigated the European research landscape and relevant policy scene, developed areas of marine and maritime common interests as well as successful and failed cooperation models. This was performed by desktop studies and consultations with experts and stakeholders (including conferences, technical meetings, open and e-fora). Numerous regional marine / maritime cooperation case studies were analysed, tools for regional research governance were investigated and assessed. The group of networks was joined by the European fisheries technology platform and the European Ocean Energy Association. The following vision, mission and objectives have been agreed upon for the established Forum:
Vision
A marine and maritime science community which provides a forum for dialogue between Europe's marine and maritime science organisations, and enhanced research capability as: The MARCOM Forum is based on the premise that no matter how effective and efficient individual science networks may be, their value is enhanced through the synergy that comes with strategic concentration of work.
Mission
- facilitate identification, definition of cross-cutting topics across the entire marine / maritime science and technology community; through, e.g.:
i) undertaking foresight analysis;
ii) assessing societal, governmental, and industrial needs.
- assist in mobilising actors and resources to support identified cross-cutting topics;
- communicate the outcome and benefits of the forum's work amongst the partners and to stakeholders and governments.
Objectives
- bring added value to funded research at the European level by facilitating improved collaboration between marine and maritime science communities;
- operate a long-term and sustainable platform (the forum), based on shared interests and shared ownership and leadership, supporting the identification of priorities and facilitating the implementation of cross-cutting, inter-disciplinary challenge based research;
- provide a forum for effective interactions between the marine and maritime science communities and broader stakeholders group (Member States, regional authorities, industry and civil society).
Potential impact:
The European marine and maritime science and technology forum will continue its project core activity of guiding the implementation of the European strategy for marine and maritime research and serving the two-way feedback needs of dialogue between marine science and maritime policy. It will remain open for any kind of fruitful involvement and will allow stakeholders from outside of the core network group to stream their voices when necessary.
List of websites: www.MarineMaritimeScienceForum.eu