Coordination action in support of the implementation of the Joint Programming Initiative on 'Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans'

Specific challenge:Following the implementation of the actions foreseen by the Commission’s Communication on Joint Programming to tackle Europe’s major societal challenges, the Competitiveness Council has welcomed the progress made by EU Member States in Joint Programming Initiatives launched so far. Several Council Conclusions on Joint Programming invite the Commission to support JPIs via Coordination and Support Actions^[1] to help achieving their main goals. By making more efficient use of MS investments and resources, JPI Ocean should help to address the societal challenges related to our seas and oceans, and consolidate the European marine research area.

Scope:Proposals should build on the outcomes of the CSA Oceans project in support to the implementation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of JPI Oceans and in ensuring further alignment and convergence of national Research and Innovation activities and investments on marine research in line with the European Commission Recommendation of 2011[2]. In this context, proposals should provide support for the designing and implementation of new transnational joint activities including joint calls if appropriate and using the most suitable and effective methods and tools for collaboration such as those proposed by the 'Voluntary guidelines on Framework Conditions', adopted by the High Level Group on Joint Programming. These new joint actions, in interface with other initiatives, should focus on relevant issues and grand challenges identified in the JPI Oceans' implementation plan and provide support to key marine and maritime related EU policies and strategies.

Proposals should be used to establish and consolidate an operational network of marine and maritime research funders and other key players in Europe, with a view to ensure alignment of national research agendas and actions implemented in the framework of other initiatives such as marine ERA-Nets (e.g. Seas-Era) and Article 185 initiatives (e.g. Bonus 'Joint Baltic Sea Research Programme).

Cooperation between relevant EU marine research institutes should be further stimulated for better coordination in the collection of marine data, the use and sharing of marine research infrastructures of transnational interest. Proposals should also include measures supporting other ERA priorities such as improving researchers' mobility and training. The international dimension of JPI Oceans should be further elaborated where appropriate and where there is added value, in order to achieve greater coherence at sea-basin and international level.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 2 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

• Streamline effective trans-national European research networking and synergies among national and EU research programmes and Member States investments related to healthy and productive seas and oceans.
• Progress towards the creation of a European Research Area in marine research.

         Improve integration and alignment in sharing, use and funding of research infrastructure between Member States and enhanced cooperation in data collection. Contribute to the implementation of key marine and maritime policies

Type of action:  Coordination and support actions

[1] Council Conclusions of 12 October 2010, of 26 November 2010 and of 8 December 2011

^[2] Commission Recommendation of 16.9.2011 on the research joint programming initiative ‘Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans' (2011/C 276/01)