The Future of Seas and Oceans Flagship Initiative

Proposals shall address one of the following sub-topics: blue cloud services, or ocean observations and forecasting[[All proposals under B) must include an observation part. http://goosocean.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=114 http://www.japan.go.jp/g7/_userdata/common/data/20160517communique.pdf]] or technologies for observations (in 2020). Actions shall demonstrate integration, capacity and (scientific, economic etc) potential. They shall complement and build on existing observation tools and systems such as EuroGOOS/EOOS, IOOS, GEO/GEOSS, COPERNICUS Marine Service or EMODnet, European research infrastructures such as Euro-Argo ERIC and EMSO ERIC as well as funded H2020 projects such as SeaDataCloud[[This will also include mutual feedback processes with the Copernicus Programme and other relevant actions such as those undertaken by IOC/IODE or the Marine Environment Monitoring Service. See topic DT-SFS-27-2019 under this Work Programme's SC2 Sustainable Food Security Call. European Research and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security, SWD(2016)319. http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2016/EN/SWD-2016-319-F1-EN-MAIN.PDF]]. The interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial nature of the proposal should also apply to training activities improving the professional skills and competencies of workers and supporting the creation of new jobs in the blue economy.

[A] 2019 - Blue Cloud services

Activities shall develop cloud services for applications that are specific for oceans, seas and fresh water bodies and are necessary for marine ecosystems research, conservation, forecasting and innovation in the Blue Economy, building and implementing also Blue Cloud demonstrators as needed. Blue Cloud demonstrators should integrate the Essential Ocean Variables[[All proposals under B) must include an observation part. http://goosocean.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=114 http://www.japan.go.jp/g7/_userdata/common/data/20160517communique.pdf]] notably the biological variables, including plankton biomass and diversity. They shall build on ongoing efforts (data, tools, EOSC, including its Pilot Blue Cloud, Data and Information Access Services (DIAS) of COPERNICUS, etc) and take account of the parallel EOSC thematic initiatives being developed – such as the Food Cloud Demonstrator.[[This will also include mutual feedback processes with the Copernicus Programme and other relevant actions such as those undertaken by IOC/IODE or the Marine Environment Monitoring Service. See topic DT-SFS-27-2019 under this Work Programme's SC2 Sustainable Food Security Call. European Research and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security, SWD(2016)319. http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2016/EN/SWD-2016-319-F1-EN-MAIN.PDF]] The action shall contribute to unlocking the innovation potential of the Blue Cloud, and demonstrate its potential in promoting the blue economy shortening the time span between research and innovation in frontier fields, such as micro-organisms and genomics-enabled innovations[[Following up on the Communication ""European Cloud Initiative – Building a competitive data and knowledge economy in Europe"", the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) will soon become an important tool for scientists, citizens and policy makers https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/communication-european-cloud-initiative-building-competitive-data-and-knowledge-economy-europe https://www.belmontforum.org/collaborative-research-actions]]. Activities shall build on existing research infrastructures, take advantage of existing data sharing activities (for example EMODnet), and build on relevant results of past and on-going global, national and EU projects such as SeaDataCloud[[This will also include mutual feedback process with the Copernicus Programme and other relevant actions such as those undertaken by IOC/IODE or the Marine Environment Monitoring Service. Recommendations 1, 3 and 4 on ocean observations and data sharing]], BlueBridge, the EOSC Pilot and other relevant projects funded under Horizon 2020, including those under Information and Communication Technologies[[https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/information-communication-technologies-horizon-2020 Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western Mediterranean]]. Proposals should include a task to cluster with other projects financed under this topic and – if possible – with other relevant projects in the field funded by Horizon 2020.

[B] 2019 - Observations and forecasting

The action shall contribute to the development and demonstration of the feasibility of the European component of a future Global Ocean Observing System in line with the G7 Tsukuba Communiqué[[All proposals under B) must include an observation part. http://goosocean.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=114 http://www.japan.go.jp/g7/_userdata/common/data/20160517communique.pdf]]. It will support activities in the different EU sea basins and the Atlantic Ocean, including the deep sea (below 2000 m), also supporting the needs of food security and safety as outlined in Food 2030[[This will also include mutual feedback processes with the Copernicus Programme and other relevant actions such as those undertaken by IOC/IODE or the Marine Environment Monitoring Service. See topic DT-SFS-27-2019 under this Work Programme's SC2 Sustainable Food Security Call. European Research and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security, SWD(2016)319. http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2016/EN/SWD-2016-319-F1-EN-MAIN.PDF]]. It will also support the future Collaborative Research Action on Oceans of the Belmont Forum[[Following up on the Communication ""European Cloud Initiative – Building a competitive data and knowledge economy in Europe"", the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) will soon become an important tool for scientists, citizens and policy makers https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/communication-european-cloud-initiative-building-competitive-data-and-knowledge-economy-europe https://www.belmontforum.org/collaborative-research-actions]]. It will underpin forecasting of the state of the ocean, climate change impact and weather. Activities shall include the demonstration of methods and technologies and their integration in existing systems to collect information on the state and variability of European seas and the Atlantic Ocean, including the impact of stressors and marine litter, and underpin sustainable management of the marine environment and its resources (e.g. the effect of networks of protected areas and other spatial protection measures). They shall take account of the needs deriving from the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative[[This will also include mutual feedback process with the Copernicus Programme and other relevant actions such as those undertaken by IOC/IODE or the Marine Environment Monitoring Service. Recommendations 1, 3 and 4 on ocean observations and data sharing]], from actions such as the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance and its related South Atlantic Flagship, the BLUEMED Initiative, and notably common priorities with the WestMED Initiative[[https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/information-communication-technologies-horizon-2020 Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western Mediterranean]]and the EUSAIR[[http://www.adriatic-ionian.eu/]] and actions addressing other European regional seas. The inclusion of forecasting tools (for example to protect aquaculture installations or to inform fisheries decision making) shall be an advantage. Similarly, the sustainability of the approach selected, the integration of innovative observations solutions and existing systems, the smooth storage of data in open access data centres and the improvement of the predictive capability shall be demonstrated. Observations and data handling may also include pilots for Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs)[[http://goosocean.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=114]] under consideration (for example, nutrients, carbonate, sound and microbes/omics) and variables that are of importance in European regional seas as well as the integration of “augmented” observatories (i.e. genomic-enabled multidisciplinary observatories)[[The development of such laboratories is not part of this call.]]. Flow of information across variables and disciplines shall be included. Data collected shall be in line with agreed standards, be openly available via portals (including EMODnet) and feed into the Pilot Blue Cloud (part of the European Open Science Cloud). International cooperation with Third Country partners is encouraged.

Proposals shall include a task to cluster with other projects financed under this topic and – if possible – with other relevant projects in the field funded by Horizon 2020. Possible links with related research and innovation activities supported by the Belmont Forum[[https://www.belmontforum.org/]] on Ocean sustainability shall also be considered.

[C] 2020 - Technologies for observations

Proposals shall address i) the demonstration of new and innovative technologies to measure the Essential Ocean Variables (EOV) at all depths, and ii) sensors to measure variables for aquaculture, fisheries, micro and nanoplastics, and marine litter and micro-litter, iii) the demonstration of novel approaches to observe the ocean with multiple underwater, surface, and air vehicles (surface and air vehicles are optional, but underwater must always be included) with a view to realizing the digital ocean. Optional air vehicles could potentially, among others, contribute to the development of fully documented fisheries.

Sensors should measure in-situ biogeochemical and biological EOVs and may include new or emerging EOVs (possibly defined at OceanObs19[[https://www.oceanobs19.net/]] or those needed for MSFD Descriptors) as well as technologies needed for “augmented” observatories (i.e. genome-enabled multidisciplinary observatories) to allow deeper investigation of marine biology and ecology and as sites to test the new technology. Demonstrations to advance deep sea oceanography, notably biological oceanography, by combinations of fleets of gliders, fixed stations, research vessels, etc. should reach TRL 6 or higher. Proposals may also cover the standards, protocols and communications needed for the observations, for open access to data, standards for data management and communication. Activities to transfer technologies from other sectors (for example combinations with data from satellites) will also be considered. The proposals shall also address issues such as low-power, miniaturisation, modularity, interoperability and low-cost. The proposals shall take agreed standards (for example Open Geospatial Consortium standards) into account. The development of new vehicles or other platforms are excluded from this call. Data collected (except data for testing) must be prepared in line with commonly agreed standards and be made available in a form suitable for EMODnet and clouds.

This topic is in support of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. Selected projects under this topic as well as projects selected under other topics in H2020 supporting the Plastics Strategy are strongly encouraged to participate in joint activities as appropriate. These joint activities could take the form of clustering of projects, participation in workshops, common exploitation and dissemination etc. The projects should describe how they will be complementary with already existing relevant national activities or other multilateral activities funded by the EU or funded jointly by several Member States. The proposals are expected to demonstrate support to common coordination and dissemination activities. Therefore, the proposals should foresee a dedicated work package for this purpose and earmark appropriate resources. Further details of these coordination activities will be defined during the grant preparation phase with the Commission.

Please note that this topic is part of the lump sum funding pilot scheme. Funding for grants awarded under this topic will take the form of lump sums as defined in Commission Decision C(2017)7151 of 27 October 2017. Details of the lump sum funding pilot scheme are published on the Funding and Tender Portal together with the specific Model Grant Agreement for Lump Sums applicable.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 6 million for sub-topic [A], EUR 12 million for sub-topic [B] and EUR 9 million for sub-topic [C] would allow this specific challenge to be adequately addressed. Nonetheless, this does not preclude the submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Our future is intimately linked to the future of the seas, oceans and coasts. The seas, oceans and coasts provide multiple ecosystem services and a wealth of resources, influence climate and provide many economic opportunities. To fully profit from the seas and oceans also in the future, we have to preserve those valuable resources and ensure that their exploitation is sustainable. Furthermore, without appropriate ocean observations for forecasting and for the protection of property and human activities, the global economy would lose hundreds of billions of euros annually. For this, we need to have the technologies for observations, integrated ocean observing systems, data management systems, and appropriate models and services. This action will contribute to make ocean observations and data management in European seas and the Atlantic Ocean fit for the future, in line with the G7 Future of the Oceans Initiative (Tsukuba Communiqué of the G7 Science Ministers[[ http://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/others/20160517communique.pdf]]). It will also support the Collaborative Research Action on Oceans of the Belmont Forum[[Belmont Forum https://www.belmontforum.org/]] and the International Ocean Governance Communication[[(JOIN(2016) 49)]]. Similarly, ocean observation data must be available to effectively address local, national and global challenges such as the forecasting of ocean conditions and climate change, to take stock of biomass and biodiversity, to mitigate the impact of climate change and ocean acidification, to ensure food security and food safety (also in fresh water), and to contribute to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, notably UN SDGs 2, 13, 14 and 15, and monitoring their targets for 2020 and 2025.

Contributing to the ongoing implementation of the Galway and Belèm Statements and of EU policies such as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Circular Economy Strategy, the European Open Science Cloud Initiative, the Blue Growth Strategy, the Common Fisheries Policy, the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the International Ocean Governance Communication and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, activities will:

In the short-term:

• Support the implementation of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans initiative, the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
• Deliver cloud services with work starting at technology readiness level (TRL) between 4 and 5 and achieving TRL between 6 and 7 or higher (sub-topic A).
• Achieve at least TRL 6 for ocean observations' systems and tools (sub-topic B and C).
• Contribute to regularly measure 50% of biological and biogeochemical EOVs, including in the sea below 2000 m, and predict negative impacts of ocean acidification and other selected stressors to take timely preventive measures, notably to protect aquaculture resources (sub-topic B and C).
• Lay the foundations for and contribute to the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts (UN SDG 14).

In the medium-term:

• Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health (UN SDG 14).
• Improve forecasting of climate changes, weather and ocean conditions to protect human activities, in support of UN SDG 14 and other relevant goals, and of the objectives of related conventions (for example on biodiversity).
• Shorten the time span between research and innovation and foster economic value in the blue economy.
• Improve the professional skills and competences of those working and being trained to work within the blue economy and in the context of open data sharing.
• Contribute to policymaking in research, innovation and technology.
• Increase data sharing and increase integration of data.
• Contribute to determining the distribution and fate of marine litter and microplastics (sub-topic C).