The project successfully attained all objectives and there were no significant deviations from the DoA and the 3 Amendments, despite the pandemic situation. This was due in part to the quality of consortium and of the risk management plan.
Next, we list some of the highlights of the project.
TNA
Call 1 - opened October 1st, 2018, and closed January 14th, 2019. There were 26 eligible applications and 22 projects approved. Call 2 - opened May 14, 2019, and closed August 15, 2019. There were 31 applications and 28 projects approved. Call 3 – opened March 3rd, 2020, and closed June 30th, 2020. There were 11 applications and 11 projects approved.
A total of 50 TNA projects were successfully completed.
Out of the 29 installations offered by EUMR, 14 have exceeded their MQA, 13 have totally reached their MQA and only 2 were partially reached (in the cases when this happened the other installations of the same partner exceeded their MQA).
NA
Project website (
https://www.eumarinerobots.eu/(opens in new window)).
Presence in social media, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and RSS-feeds.
Very strong presence in national and international conferences, summer schools, cruises, and at-sea exercises.
António Pascoal and João Borges de Sousa were the co-chairs of the IEEE/MTS San Diego Oceans Global conference, September 2021: 1 EUMR plenary session, 3 sessions focused on EUMR, and a join session on the UN Decade of the Ocean co-organized with IOC.
The “Coffee with EUMR” Webinar series organized to disseminate project results and reach the scientific, industry and end-user communities.
Educational activities: Breaking the Surface 2018-2021 and PLOCAN Glider School 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Implemented the e-access framework and enabled existing partner e-Infrastructure components for virtual access and further development within EUMR.
e-based learning: interactive modules, a book and videos of the operations carried out during the project will be made available as open access material on the project website.
Promoted multiple exchange programs among EUMR researchers (pre-pandemic).
Had tens of students addressing some of the challenges put forward by EUMR
Number of publications: > 95.
Promoted deeper interaction with other European initiatives and H2020 funded projects (EuroSea, Groom, Eurofleets+), and EuroGOOS to strengthen the Marine Robotic Communities.
JRA
Upgrade of partners infra-structures in preparation for harbor and sea trials.
Sea-trials: REP exercise 2018, 2019, 2021, Exploring Fronts with Multiple Robots cruise (2018), RV Polarstern cruise (PS119) in April/May 2019, cruise opportunity in RV L’EUROPE in the Ligurian Sea off the coast of Nice 2020, EUMR cruise in RV Meteor (expedition M167) and cruise RV ALKOR in the St. Tropez Canyon, France, 2021, Celtic Explorer Cruise (2021).
The support and recommendations of the PO and reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.