So far, 40 multinational projects from the first two Mission Ocean and Waters calls for proposals (years 2021-2022) are receiving over €270 million to contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and waters’: protect and restore biodiversity, reduce pollution, support a circular and sustainable blue economy.
A full overview of the projects can be found on the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal. The funding comes from Horizon Europe, the EU’s programme for research and innovation.
A further, 85 proposals for the Mission Ocean and Waters 2023 calls were submitted by the deadline of 20 September 2023. Evaluations are ongoing, with the assistance of external expert evaluators. The results will be communicated to proposers probably before the end of the year.
These projects will also play a key role in developing the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO). Developed as part of this Mission, the European DTO brings together physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economic data and models to create a virtual replica of the ocean. Announced by President von der Leyen at the One Ocean Summit in Brest in February 2022, it is one of the enablers of the Mission, together with broad public mobilisation and engagement. Its ambition is to make ocean knowledge readily available to citizens, entrepreneurs, scientists and policy-makers by providing them with an innovative set of user-driven, interactive and visualisation tools.
New Mission Ocean and Water calls are being prepared – publication of these calls is expected in February 2024 so stay tuned!
