Building on the June 2026 launch of the European OceanEye communication, EMODnet provided expert input to European Commission calls for evidence to help shape the future Ocean and Water Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy. EMODnet supports the integration of the Ocean Research & Innovation Strategy and Water Resilience Research & Innovation Strategy for a more holistic approach, with EMODnet’s service evolution also expanding at the land-sea interface, also providing ongoing expert advice on (meta)data interoperability for the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water4All Partnership, among others.
As Europe seeks to address major challenges including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and water security, EMODnet underlines the critical role of open, interoperable and trusted marine and water data in supporting research, innovation and evidence-based decision-making.
A key message of the two calls, the Ocean Research & Innovation Strategy (ORIS) and the Water Resilience Research & Innovation Strategy, is the importance of adopting a source-to-sea approach. Rivers, coastal zones and marine environments form a connected system, and addressing environmental and societal challenges requires integrated data services that span the entire water cycle. Improved interoperability between marine and freshwater data infrastructures will be essential to support effective policy implementation and long-term resilience.
EMODnet's responses highlight how its operational, open-access data services already provide value-added products and information that support a wide range of societal and blue economy applications. These services help stimulate innovation, facilitate market uptake and ensure data transparency, trust and reusability across sectors.
For the future Ocean Research & Innovation Strategy (ORIS), EMODnet calls for:
- Closing critical marine data gaps;
- Continued investment in sustainable marine data infrastructures;
- Building on trusted, operational and open European marine data services.
For the Water Resilience Research & Innovation Strategy, EMODnet emphasises the need for:
- Stronger coordination across the European Union, national and regional levels;
- Addressing barriers that limit the uptake of innovative solutions;
- Advancing an interoperable European water data ecosystem;
- Transforming observations into trusted knowledge products that support decision-making and strengthen resilience.
Through its responses to both calls, EMODnet demonstrates how accessible and interoperable marine and water data can contribute to delivering the ambitions of the European Ocean Pact and support Europe's transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
Read the full responses here:
