OCEAN Challenges

CHALLENGE 1 - Improving knowledge and communication of present and past dynamics of the ecosystems, impact of climate change, vulnerability, resilience to natural and anthropogenic pressures, forecast changes, services and mitigation :

• 1.1. Understanding the dynamics of the Ocean and ecosystems’ functioning
• 1.2. Understanding pollution and climate impacts
• 1.3 Understanding Ocean-Atmosphere interactions
• 1.4. Forecasting the relationship between the ocean dynamics, biodiversity and ecosystems’ functioning and services
• 1.5 Adapting to climate change and definition of mitigation measures
• 1.6 Evaluating accurately long term (past, present and future) ocean resources and ecosystems
• 1.7 Reversing the long term overexploitation of the marine ecosystems

CHALLENGE 2 - Effective risk management and protection of coastal areas :

• 2.1 Reducing the threat on coastal ecosystems and the negative effects on human-related activities
• 2.2. Evaluating, communicating and reducing the coastal risks of pollution
• 2.3. Forecasting coastal erosion and submersion for integrated coastal zone management
• 2.4. Improved decision support systems for sustainable Port and maritime management
• 2.5 Improved governance through scientifically informed MSP and MPA and improved juridical procedures
• 2.6 Improved international collaborations through better communication and understanding of cultural and historical contexts.

CHALLENGE 3 - Contribution to the creation of a digital twin of our oceans through accessible and interoperable ocean science data and observation systems :

• 3.1. Advancing Marine and Maritime Intelligent Robotics systems
• 3.2. Tailor-made sensors and platforms, embedding AI to observe the ocean and its biodiversity
• 3.3. Intelligent Maritime and Offshore Security and safety systems
• 3.4. Modelling of Ocean dynamics & intelligent forecasting oceanic variables
• 3.5. Big data Passive Acoustics for long term and large-scale ocean monitoring
• 3.6. Advancing Trajectography, tracking and automatic monitoring systems

 
CHALLENGE 4 - Innovations in Marine engineering, Blue growth businesses, and governance based on an ocean literate society :

• 4.1. Promote the engineering of maritime transport and offshore structure as well as those related to Marine Renewable Energies (MRE). Hydrodynamics and flows, wave and wave studies, optimization of energy performance, materials, durability of offshore structures, offshore wind
• 4.2 Promote public-private partnerships to overcome some obstacles of new activities including new sensors for pollutants, bioremediation measures, as well as new processes (for plastics and emerging contaminants) retention in wastewater treatment plans, satellite data services.
• 4.3. Establish strategies to encourage and facilitate cluster development in the Ocean, in Pollution, green material development, data science, through federation of Research/Industry.
• 4.4. Provide scenarios of environmental changes, investigating the impact of ecological changes to people, of alternative socio economics development pathways and blue growth.
• 4.5. Pilot innovative methods for citizen and stakeholder engagement, open science, ocean literacy and advocacy.