Horizon Europe: Italy to head the blue economy partnership guide

 

Italy has won the leadership in the initiative “A climate neutral, Sustainable and productive Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP)” and the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) will be the European coordinator, MUR reports. With 59 partners from 25 countries involved, the initiative will be funded with 73 million euros from Horizon Europe and 23 million from the European Commission.

SBEP is one of the 49 partnerships that the European Commission has decided to establish under Horizon Europe, the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Italian leadership provides that MUR and MISE (the ministry for Economics) would participate as beneficiaries. The National Research Council, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics will participate as affiliated partners.

SBEP’s aim is to “design, guide and support a fair and inclusive transition towards a regenerative, resilient and sustainable blue economy”. As well as to deepening the knowledge of marine and ocean science and providing impact-oriented research”.

The initiative will provide solutions to strengthen international collaboration in the marine and maritime sectors linked to EU strategies for the Green Deal and Digital Europe, coordinating national scientific priorities, and contributing to developing innovative governance frameworks for the benefit of coastal communities.

There will be 6 calls – the first within the first quarter of 2023 – over the next 7 years to support joint programming of research and development on priority thematic areas, including off-platforms share, maritime space planning and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

 

Photo credits: Eticasgr