The EMODnet Open Conference 2025, held on 25–26 November 2025 at the Nhow Hotel in Brussels, brought together more than 450 participants from 33 countries and around 140 organisations, including 306 onsite attendees, 457 online viewers, and 42 speakers. This flagship event took place back-to-back with an EMODnet partner Jamboree and the Digital Ocean Forum 2025, with EMODnet central to the full week of EU Marine Knowledge events, not least in its structural role as the in situ marine data component of the European Digital Twin Ocean.
Over two dynamic days, the EMODnet community—representing over 130 partners and 36 associated partners— together with wider stakeholders shared progress and success stories of EMODnet to-date, ranging from data sharing to use cases, and exchanged on EMODnet’s service evolution towards a fully comprehensive, inclusive and scaled EMODnet EU in situ marine data service.
The EMODnet Open Conference 2025 was opened by Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans who highlighted EMODnet as a cornerstone of EU marine knowledge (see his full intervention here). Head of EMODnet Secretariat Kate Larkin then welcomed stakeholders on behalf of the EMOD-network, highlighting the EMODnet community Vision 2035, and inviting all stakeholders to engage in the dialogues to shape EMODnet’s service evolution and to communicate the opportunity – and demand – for EMODnet to scale and expand over the next decade and beyond. The opening culminated with the presentation of a new video ‘EMODnet for the European Ocean Pact’.
Day 1: From Observations to Actionable data for the Ocean Pact
The opening session started at the foundation of EMODnet, with Nicolas Segebarth (EC, DG RTD), presented the EU Ocean Observation Initiative, highlighting EMODnet’s key role in the in situ ocean observation and marine knowledge value chain. The related Panel “EMODnet: Transforming in situ ocean observations into FAIR data and data products for society”, explored how EMODnet’s partners – working with the diverse in situ ocean observation and data collection community – source, assemble and curate raw (primary) ocean observations into Findable, Accessible, Reusable and Interoperable (FAIR) open and actionable marine data and data products for users across all sectors. Panelists included EMODnet Coordinators and wider partners from National Oceanographic Data Centres, National Hydrographic Offices and National Geological Surveys, Research Performing Organisations and International initiatives including representatives from Ifremer, France; VLIZ, Belgium; OGS, Italy; GTK, Finland; NIOZ, The Netherlands; Shom, France; EMODnet Associated Partner Voice of the Ocean (VOTO), Sweden, and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The Panel emphasised the important – and continuous - work of Member States and wider National ocean observation and data stakeholders in collecting in situ ocean observations and curating ocean data, as the foundation of EMODnet’s value chain and its federated ocean data infrastructure, and how EMODnet is already a key regional data service contributing to the Global (ocean data) digital ecosystem and the opportunity to further engage with the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and wider initiatives of IOC / UNESCO.
The second session “EMODnet for the European Ocean Pact” opened with a presentation by Rémy Denos (EC, DG RTD) who explained how marine knowledge is central to delivering the Ocean Pact and that EMODnet has a crucial role in the EU marine knowledge landscape. The related Panel brought together multiple European Commission Directorates-General including DG ENV, DG MARE, DG INTPA, European agencies e.g., EEA and National experts including EMODnet Seabed Habitats Coordinator Syke, Finland and a National Maritime Spatial Planning expert from CNR, Italy. The Panel showcased how EMODnet already underpins EU ocean and environmental policy implementation—from providing harmonised data at European scale for EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptors to EMODnet’s unique role providing Member State Maritime Spatial Plans (MSPs) in geospatial data formats harmonised for regional sea-basins, offering the potential for transboundary MSP, and the opportunity for EMODnet to enhance its offer to support the EU Nature Restoration Law and EU obligations to global ocean governance, not least including the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty and wider contributions including to the UN Ocean Decade.
Afternoon breakout sessions were delivered by the EMODnet community, with four parallel topics promoting exchange and feedback from stakeholders on specific components of EMODnet from its data providers to its technical services and from its user community to its contribution to global initiatives:
- Scaling EMODnet in situ ocean data sharing and integration;
- EMODnet as a regional marine data service for the global digital ocean ecosystem;
- EMODnet technical services;
- EMODnet user needs and requirements.
The day concluded with a “Community Insights” session opened by Andreea Strachinescu (EC DG MARE) who noted that the strength of EMODnet lies in its expert network that collectively deliver the operational EMODnet service. EMODnet representatives presented highlights from the four breakout sessions, followed by a Panel of EMODnet Coordinators and partners sharing success stories, the latest offer and key partnerships that continue to drive EMODnet’s consolidation and evolution.
Day 2: EMODnet’s Vision for the Future
Day 2 opened with a spotlight on EMODnet for Research, Innovation and the Blue Economy. The session was opened by Vilma Kuuliala (EC, JRC) who highlighted the crucial role of scientific evidence and marine data in advancing a competitive and restorative Blue Economy. The related Panel featured practical examples of how EMODnet drives innovation in science, technology, and sustainable business— with use cases and data sharing success stories from EMODnet Associated Partners Fugro and Van Oord, and wider examples including from TransEurope Marinas and the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), among others.
This led into a final, forward-looking session “EMODnet Service Evolution for the European Ocean Pact”. The EMODnet Vision 2035 was presented by the EMODnet Secretariat, on behalf of the 30-strong Vision Drafting Group of EMODnet Coordinators, partners, associated partners and wider stakeholders. The Vision showcases EMODnet’s four-dimensions of value across the in situ ocean observation and marine knowledge value chain and presents community recommendations and priorities for further consolidating, expanding and scaling EMODnet to deliver its maximum potential to support the European Ocean Pact. This includes a call for EMODnet’s annual funding to be increased to appropriate levels – at least doubled – from the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2025-2034) to enable EMODnet to deliver at its maximum potential to support the European Ocean Observation Initiative, the European Digital Twin Ocean and the European Ocean Pact. A Panel that followed brought together EMODnet Coordinators (VLIZ), European Commission (DG DEFIS), and external experts representing polar science, marine biological resources and the deep ocean, the coast and land-sea interface, international ocean data sharing and more to discuss how EMODnet could deliver on its service evolution and the key partnerships and steps needed to relaise its Vision 2035.
In her closing remarks, Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director at DG MARE, commended the EMODnet community for its achievements and underlined its pivotal contribution to the European Ocean Pact, EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters, and global ocean initiatives.
Revisit the Highlights
Dive into key materials from the EMODnet OC, now publicly available on the EMODnet OC website and EMODnet Portal:
- Conference Master Presentation (PPT)
- Photo Gallery
- Conference Recordings: Day 1 – Day 2
- EMODnet Vision 2035
- “EMODnet for the Ocean Pact” Video
For more highlights and outcomes, visit the EMODnet Open Conference 2025 page.