Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AANChOR (All AtlaNtic Cooperation for Ocean Research and innovation) Reporting period: 2020-04-01 to 2021-09-30 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project The Atlantic Ocean is an invaluable resource shared by all Atlantic nations, and beyond. It requires effective cooperation in marine research and innovation to best unlock its secrets and to manage human activities that depend on it in a sustainable way. Supporting these values, several countries have joint efforts and launched an unprecedent cooperation in marine research and innovation at the Atlantic Ocean scale through the creation of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance. The All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance is the result of science diplomacy efforts involving countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (Galway Statement, May 2013 (EU-CA-EUA), Belém Statement (BS), July 2017 (EU-BR-ZA) and bilateral Administrative Arrangements between EU-AR, 2018; EU-CV, 2018 and EU-MA, 2020) which aims at enhancing marine research and innovation cooperation along and across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Arctic to Antarctica. The AANChOR project, aims at supporting the implementation of the BS, and therefore the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, through the reinforcement of the international cooperation framework between EU member states, Brazil and South Africa, and desirably other countries that border the Atlantic Ocean. AANChOR has three specific objectives: • Identifying concrete joint actions to support the implementation of the EU-Brazil-South Africa BS; • Contributing to the implementation of the selected joint actions;• Defining long term measures for sustainability of the cooperation framework beyond the lifetime of the CSA. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far With the aim to achieve Objective 1 AANChOR launched a multi-stakeholder platform (MsP) for the Atlantic, which for operational purposed was divided in 5 sub-multi-stakeholder platforms (sMsPs), each one addressing a specific area: (1) Capacity Development, (2) Knowledge Transfer for Ocean Innovation and Economy, (3) Common Standards for Data and Information Sharing, (4) Ocean Citizen Awareness and Literacy and (5) Convergence and Alignment of Research and Innovation infrastructure initiatives. The MsP, is composed of a total of 74 experts from 18 countries (Angola, Argentina, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Namibia, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom) and 3 continents (Europe, America and Africa). The platform includes experts from academia, research institutes, international networks/programs/initiatives, educators from science centres and aquaria industry, educator associations/foundations, data management, communication management and government and have experience in each of the six thematic areas identified in the BS (Climate Variability, Ocean Observation, Ocean Resources, Ocean Technology, Emerging Pollutants and Polar Research). The aim of the multi-stakeholder platform is to define concrete activities to be implemented jointly, contributing to achieve the aims stated in the BS. Currently the platform more than 800 past and present national and international initiatives (currently being uploaded to the All-Atlantic Marine Research Initiatives Database under the Alliance Portal) and have identified 56 gaps and 79 needs to enhance transatlantic collaboration. Following the guidance of the Belém Co-Chairs the platform experts saw 6 Joint Action (JA) proposals recommended by the Belém Co-Chairs to be implemented in scope of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance and receive seed funding from AANChOR to support its initial phase of implementation.In an unprecedent collaboration, several EU funded projects and other Atlantic initiatives are joining efforts to strengthen the JPAs through the linkage and in some cases adaptation of their activities to the JPAs goals. Withing the aim of Objective 2 the project advanced seed funds to support the Joint Pilot Actions (JPAs) implementation, monitored the use of the seed funds, supported the JPA leaders in the implementation of the JPAs and identified more than 120 possible funding opportunities to the long-term implementation of JPAs. Due to COVID19 pandemic the main JPA activities took place virtually and therefore seed funds from AANChOR were not used, except for WP6. Communication and dissemination activities are also supporting the implementation of the JPAs through activities promoting the engagement of Atlantic stakeholders in the Alliance and in the JPAs.Within the aim of Objective 3 the AANChOR project launched database of marine research and innovation initiatives along and across the Atlantic Ocean (currently being updated as indicated above) and continued to support the All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors (AAOYA) initiative. AANChOR has also communicated the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance through its Portal, social media, various online and printed materials and a video. The project has also supported the organisation of two All-Atlantic Ocean Research Foruns (2020) and supported the dissemination of the All-Atlantic2021 Conference (2021). The contribution to this objective will continue in RP3. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) Transatlantic cooperation in marine research and innovation already exists, but at a small scale. Transatlantic discussion platforms with representatives from North and South Atlantic countries such as the one that AANChOR is implementing contribute considerably to overcoming cultural issues that impair transatlantic cooperation. The non-exhaustive mapping of initiatives in the Atlantic Ocean contributing to the implementation of the BS, the joint identification of gaps and needs and the implementation of 6 JPAs by the All-Atlantic Community, are paving the way for stronger transatlantic cooperation to achieve the Alliance goals. The MsP for the Atlantic deployed by AANChOR and the JPAs being implemented only represent the tip of the cooperation iceberg that can be built in the next years. In addition, the activities developed in support of the AAOYA initiative, constitute an unparallel activity in the transatlantic marine sphere, as for the first time the leaders of tomorrow are being empowered and taught to become drivers of change in marine issues. Finally, the Alliance portal constitutes an unparalleled tool in the transatlantic marine sphere as it is aimed to be a one-stop-shop for marine research and innovation in the Atlantic Ocean.Until the end of the project between 6 transatlantic long-term JPAs that promote coordinated cooperation among existing initiatives will begin to be implemented with seed funds from AANChOR. In addition, the database of marine research and innovation initiatives along and across the Atlantic Ocean is expected to solidify the Alliance portal as the Atlantic one-stop shop. Finally, at the end of the project we expect to have supported youth engagement at the Atlantic level in their commitment to respond to the global challenges of the present and to equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge to act as effective ocean ambassadors, and to empower them to drive positive change and sustainable development along and across the Atlantic Ocean. AANChOR is expected to impact society by enhancing the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Community through: (1) encouraging new models of cooperation on a coordinated and partnership-based approach, (2) promoting joint activities and (3) improving efficiency by making a better use of existing Atlantic initiatives, capacities, expertise, infrastructures, and other resources, avoiding overlap. The six ltransatlantic long-term Joint Pilot Actions launched in scopd of AANChOR
