Over the past few years, remarkable progress was made in marine research and innovation cooperation across the Atlantic Ocean. We have significantly progressed towards an All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, which joins efforts undertaken with the signing of the EU – USA – Canada Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, and the EU – Brazil – South Africa Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research Forum held in Brussels in February 2020 highlighted results and solutions for citizens and communities produced so far by this cooperation, and plan the further implementation of the Galway and Belém Statements. During the Forum, the Atlantic community defined a vision of how it can strengthen its international cooperation to seize the opportunities and address the common challenges. At the opening of the Forum, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel mentioned Blue-Cloud as a key project towards the creation of the Earth Digital Twin announced in the EU Green Deal.
The Forum set a new strategic direction for the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, which can support the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and deliver on such priorities as the EU Green Deal, the Horizon Europe Mission Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters and others.
The day before the event also saw the first Blue-Cloud workshop: "Improving the knowledge of our oceans and seas and bringing them closer to citizens", organised in cooperation with the AANChOR and AORAC-SA projects, and the AtlantOS program. Blue-Cloud coordinator Sara Garavelli from Trust-IT Services presented the outcomes of the workshop during the Forum.
