Unlocking marine knowledge

In line with the vision of an Innovation Union (Europe 2020) with open access to publicly funded research results to foster exploitation, particularly among the marine and maritime community (Ostend Declaration, 2010), MarineTT is a timely EC 7th Framework Programme Support Action that aims to make a real contribution to improved access to EU marine research. In view of a clear demand to show demonstrable impact from research, MarineTT is developing an improved methodology for knowledge capture and transfer. This innovative approach to unlocking marine knowledge involves a key change of focus from the promotion of research projects per se, to the singling out of ‘Knowledge Outputs' that targeted end-users can adopt and/or exploit.

A broad overview of the knowledge generated by EU-funded marine research has been gained by surveying approximately 500 FP6 and FP7 marine projects, from which more than 700 ‘Knowledge Outputs' from almost 200 projects have been extracted, based on project coordinator responses. A significant effort has also been made to further explore, complete and cluster the information provided, which has also been reviewed by project coordinators and validated by external experts from different sectors and backgrounds (industry, policy and research).

The preliminary results and recommendations from this knowledge analysis process have recently been presented at a showcase in Brussels to representatives of DG MARE, DG RTD, DG ENV, major European and national marine research institutions, as well as consultancy companies in European marine affairs. The showcase acted as a forum for key individuals at European level to provide MarineTT with feedback and insight, raising awareness at the same time. The relevance of the work being done through MarineTT was generally acknowledged by the attendees as very useful, not only to SMEs, policy makers and industry, but also to marine scientists in order to gain an understanding of what has been done in European marine research until now, and also the possible use of these research results to improve not only marine research, but also to better inform policy and facilitate knowledge transfer in all relevant marine areas such as climate change, marine renewable energy and environmental monitoring.

The next stage of MarineTT will be to profile primary end users of the ‘Knowledge Outputs' deemed as having high potential impact. This exercise will pave the way for successful transfer of high potential ‘Knowledge Outputs' to target audiences by using appropriate tools and mediums in order to maximise the impact of Europe's RTD efforts in the marine sector.
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