Causes Our Blue Future

Today, in the European Parliament, Maria da Graça Carvalho co-hosted with Maria do Céu Patrão Neves -Member of the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament- and with The German Marine Research Consortium KDM; the seminar OUR BLUE FUTURE, Towards a MarineKIC in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

The goal of this briefing was to discuss the possibilities of including 'Our Blue Future' in the list of KIC topics to be funded by the EIT in the next financial framework. The maritime economy in Europe is strong, diverse and highly decentralized providing millions of jobs mainly in SMEs located in regions across Europe. European universities and research institutions make cutting-edge contributions in almost all fields of the global maritime economy. This combination of economic importance as well as excellence in education and RTD offers an ideal context for European-level public investment to kick-start a more focused and strategic approach to strengthening maritime economic development.

A MarineKIC offers the perspective of a unique EU flagship initiative, jointly driven by commerce, science and education. A MarineKIC can provide a critical means of implementing the Europe 2020 goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth at the regional level.

Agenda:

• Welcoming Remarks: Maria da Graça Carvalho
• Moderation: Ricardo Serrão Santos,  Provost for the Integration of Sea Affairs, University of the Azores and President, IMAR - Instituto do Mar
• Statements:  Marisa MATIAS, MEP; Ioannis A. TSOUKALAS  MEP;  
• Speakers:     Karin Lochte, Chair, KDM - The German Marine Research Consortium and Director, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine    
• Research; Hervé Moulinier, President, Pôle Mer Bretagne & Director of Technical Strategy, Thales Group;
• Concluding Remarks: Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, Member of the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament

Following the presentations there was time for discussion with key interested stakeholders, including: Cordelia Andreßen, State Secretary, Schleswig-Holstein; Christoph Clergeau, 1st Vice-President, Pays de la Loire (invited);  Barbara Fogarty, National Co-ordinator, Advanced Marine Technologies Ireland; José Ribau Esteves, President, Oceano XXI Portugal; Damon Teagle, Deputy Director, Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute & Lloyd's Register; Emilio Fernández Suárez, Director, Campus do Mar Spain.