Event date: 18/01/2022 – 09:45

Would you like to take part in our Mission to restore the health of our ocean, seas and waters? Learn how at the dedicated Info Day session and apply by 12 April 2022.

Ocean, seas and waters are precious resources for the planet and for our well-being. With a 2030 target, the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ puts research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments at the service of healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The work programme of the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’, which is the main instrument for the implementation of its R&I component, offers plenty of opportunities for collaboration between scientists, authorities, business and citizens. An indicative budget of €114 million will be allocated to the first calls for proposals.

The Mission work programme puts a special focus on the concept of “lighthouses”, conceived as R&I project portfolios for the development and deployment of transformative and innovative solutions in four sea/river basins:

• Atlantic and Arctic basin
• Baltic and North Sea basin
• Mediterranean Sea basin
• Danube River basin

Some of the 2021 calls will target three main challenges:

• protect 30% of the EU’s sea area and restore marine ecosystems and 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers
• prevent and eliminate pollution by reducing plastic litter at sea, nutrient contamination and use of chemical pesticides by 50%
• make the blue economy climate-neutral and circular with net-zero maritime emissions

Coordination activities will address the setting up of a governance structure and a monitoring framework, networking and communication actions as well as providing technical assistance and expertise for a well-functioning innovation ecosystem at basin level.

A cross-basin initiative will provide new opportunities for the protection and conservation of our blue natural capital and the establishment of Blue Parks across the EU.

Enabling activities will support the development of an Ocean digital knowledge system – the Digital Twin Ocean, public engagement initiatives, foresight and other studies in marine/maritime and water domains.

More information

Info Day on Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030" on 18 January 2022 (9:45-12:45)

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