The BLUEMED INITIATIVE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION INITIATIVE FOR

The BLUEMED INITIATIVE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION INITIATIVE FOR BLUE JOBS AND GROWTH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA Vangelis Papathanassiou Research Director Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) vpapath@hcmr. gr

THE BLUEMED INITIATIVE What is it, who is involved and how has it started… The BLUEMED Initiative fosters integration of knowledge and efforts to develop the blue growth in the Mediterranean Basin • It is developed under the Italian Presidency of the EC in 2014 jointly developed and agreed between MED MS (Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Spain) and Portugal; • It is facilitated with the support of the European Commission (DG R&I, DG MARE, DG JRC) • It is an Initiative developed by countries and it is being used as an example of cooperation

THE BLUEMED INITIATIVE: How is it evolved? It is developed having numerous meetings and going through the following steps: 1. (Starting point) Mapping of existing/ongoing regional, national and European projects/initiatives by the Countries involved 2. Participation of experts, major public and private stakeholders including maritime clusters, and policy makers 3. Identification of the knowledge and technology/innovation gaps and of the “conditions” that could allow the gaps to be addressed 4. Inputs from SEAS- ERANET, major EU funded R&I projects (finished or ongoing) & important pertinent European Technology Platforms and private associations (e. g. EATi. P, Waterborne, Cruising) 5. Creation of Key Challenges (Knowledge-Sectors-Technology & Innovation)

The process Needs & Gaps Vision SRIA • May 2014: Set up of the initiative and roadmap • June-July 2014: Mapping of R&I projects (about 900!) and stakeholders consultation at national level • August 2014: Merging of information to identify R&I needs & gaps, opportunities and boundary conditions for their implementation • September - December 2014: Consultation with scientific communities & industry associations at EU level; finalization of a Vision Document; endorsement by the Italian Presidency of the EU Council via its presentation during the Competitiveness Council of 04 -05 December 2014. • February 2015: Key challenges goals & actions for boosting blue jobs and growth and improve knowledge transfer and SMEs participation; exploration of interregional perspective/opportunities within the EU Cohesion policy • March 2015: Improvement of the effectiveness and finalization of the BLUEMED Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

Aims and objectives of the BLUEMED • Provide knowledge-based support for the implementation of EU Policies and Directives in the Mediterranean • Promote innovative multi-disciplinary research and cooperation activities that will address the relevant Mediterranean challenges • Develop innovative marine-based technologies, methodologies and approaches to boost economic growth, conservation and valorization of marine environment, resources & cultural heritage • Create an interoperable, fully integrated observing & forecasting system and promote long-term observations with open data • Promote citizens’ awareness and literacy on the importance of a sustainable prosperous Mediterranean Sea and its resources • Train a new generation of scientists, professionals, technicians and entrepreneurs, for new and qualified “jobs of the sea”

BLUEMED Initiative: Key Challenges 1. Key enabling support knowledge for the Mediterranean, targets relevant knowledge gaps to be overcome 2. Key Sectorial enablers in the Mediterranean, addresses specific sectors of the blue growth path 3. Enabling technology and capacity creation for the Mediterranean, identifies needed innovative human potential and infrastructures

The SRIAOn–Mediterranean Key Challenges Key enabling support knowledge for the Mediterranean • On Mediterranean Sea ecosystems: services, resources, vulnerability and resilience to natural and anthropogenic pressures • On Mediterranean Sea dynamics as to develop services for sustainable adaptation and remediation plans to climate change • On Mediterranean hazards and protection of coastal areas innovative marine bioresources based enterprises • On ecosystem based management of Mediterranean aquaculture and fisheries • On sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean • On maritime clusters in the Mediterranean • On Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean Enabling technology and capacity creation for the Mediterranean • On smart and greener maritime transport and facilities in the Mediterranean • On observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean • On multi-purpose off-shore platforms in the Mediterranean • On Mediterranean marine and costal cultural heritage: unveiling,

Why the BLUEMED? • A unique Basin in terms of biotic and abiotic characteristics and how they are interconnected with human activities • MED is relevant for EU economy with 30% of global sea-borne trade and 25% of worldwide sea-borne oil traffic, more than 450 ports, and half of the EU’s fishing fleet • A populated Basin > 150 M inhabitants on coasts, who double during the tourist season also for the unique cultural heritage >400 UNESCO sites • A challenging MED where the ecosystem is at risk, considering the increasing pollution and costal degradation due to the overexploitation of space and resources • A Basin of opportunities to be sustainably exploited The MED urgently requires a tailor-made common marine and maritime R&I cross-sectorial programme for the achievement of a solid knowledge -based sustainable and long lasting “Blue Growth”

Why does it matter? • Tries to exploit the potential of marine and maritime sectors to create new ‘blue’ jobs, promote social cohesion and improve the environmental status and citizens’ wellness • Has an integrated approach across different sectors and disciplines and a long-term oriented, strategic coordination of R&I activities • Provides added value to regional, national and EU investment, avoids duplication and reduces fragmentation by having synergies and complementarities between sectors & countries • Countries could play a major role…. a more stable research and innovation strategy will be provided • Example (way of thinking) for the future for other areas

Ministers’ Meeting for the BLUEMED Venice October 16, 2015 The Representatives of the Governments of Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia, decided to advance the strategic marine and maritime research and innovation Agenda for Blue Growth in the Euro. Mediterranean Region, aiming at: üPromoting cooperation in research and innovation between all Mediterranean countries; üEngaging with both public and private stakeholders, including small and medium enterprises, in research and innovation actions of cooperation; üSupporting knowledge-based policy making; Prioritising the implementation of cross-cutting actions with high societal impact; üEnsuring the effective and efficient use of resources and infrastructures by Member States cooperation and joint actions; üDeveloping innovative sea-related competences, particularly at technical, doctoral and first stage researchers level.

What do we need more? (Some answers…. ) • Meet the challenges and increase the potential of the BG; could represent a significant share of the countries' growth in the SES A and have clear • Countries take a coordinated action, prioritise S C objectives a h • Tackle, collectively, economic, social, itscientific & environmental w challenges s s e common • Align EU and National fundingcfor goals ) 0 o r 02 • Involve stakeholders at multidisciplinary level having an integrated P 2 e cross-sectorial approach h 16 t g use 20 • Data sharing for wider n i knowledge ( t • New and emerging and technologies to build on a t i l i • Apply services (like safety, MLResources, costal & marine c applications Fa etc. - Copernicus is a good example) • Develop new tools (from projects? ) helping the scientific community to create more accurate and dynamic forecasting of possible risk scenarios

BLUEMED CSA Ø Goal: to support the activation of sustainable ‘blue’ innovation and growth, by fostering integration of knowledge and efforts of relevant stakeholders Ø Update the SRIA, Develop an Action Plan, test the way it can be done and select priorities Ø What is «special» in this CSA? • • It directly supports a political initiative (BLUEMED Initiative) It has specific objectives and activities that are major tools and steps towards a wider and more ambitious goal Ø Coordination and Support Action – 4 years, 9 countries, 11 partners, 2, 998 K€ http: //www. bluemed-project. eu

Thank you!