Komisjoni teatis - COM(2026) 268

EN EN

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 3.6.2026

COM(2026) 268 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN

PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

OceanEye: An EU ocean observation initiative

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Introduction OceanEye is an EU initiative to boost ocean observation1, enhance our ability to understand

and manage the marine environment and maritime activities and strengthen Europe’s related

innovation and industrial base.

Building on the existing EU assets and actions, OceanEye serves as a core delivery

mechanism of the European Ocean Pact as well as the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

vision of anchoring Europe’s leadership in emerging technologies and market segments.

It positions the EU as a reliable global partner with its action firmly anchored in science and

aims at bringing the Ocean to the heart of our societies and economy.

In the spirit of “Choose Europe”2, it builds on the “moonshot” ambition for ocean observation

outlined in the Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 Horizon Europe Programme3. The

initiative aims for the EU to provide by 2035 35% of the global ocean observing system, to

secure 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies, and to become the world’s

leading provider of ocean intelligence.

The ocean covers 70% of the earth’s surface, yet only 5% of it has been explored and

mapped. Ocean observation is essential infrastructure, not an optional capability.

We must sustain the ocean that sustains us. The ocean is of strategic importance,

underpinning our security, prosperity and resilience. The ocean is the biggest carbon sink,

and therefore our ally in the fight against global warming and it generates 50% of the oxygen

we need4. It is also a central component of the water cycle and provides a wealth of resources,

notably as a vital source of food through fisheries and aquaculture, which are also key for

European food sovereignty, territorial cohesion and sustainable food systems. Sustainable

management of marine activities is key to maintain essential societal functions in a variety of

sectors.

The ocean is also a key geopolitical space for maritime transport, energy and digital

infrastructure, maritime security and defence. In an era of evolving hybrid threats, the

resilience of these critical maritime infrastructures has emerged as a strategic priority, making

sustained ocean knowledge indispensable for safeguarding Europe’s interests, strategic

autonomy and leadership in a rapidly changing world. Also, the EU’s Security and Defence

Partnerships5 with non-EU countries, including the UK, Norway, Canada, and India, reflect

the increasing importance of ocean observation in strengthening joint maritime security efforts.

1 Ocean observation can be defined as the sum of capabilities used to observe the ocean, both from satellite,

in situ or through any other means. These capabilities are deployed through permanent and ad hoc activities,

using established monitoring systems, observing platforms, instruments, marine vessels, autonomous

vehicles and other tools. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/choose-europe_en 3 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on establishing the Specific Programme implementing Horizon

Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for the period 2028-2034, laying down

the rules for participation and dissemination under that Programme, and repealing Decision (EU) 2021/764,

COM/2025/544 final 4 The ocean – the world’s greatest ally against climate change | United Nations 5 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-security-and-defence-partnerships_en

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Therefore, a well-functioning Ocean Observation system is crucial for:

• generating sustained, high-quality data on physical, chemical and biological ocean

processes, which is essential for protecting and restoring ocean health, conserving

marine biodiversity, and maintaining the vital ecosystem services the ocean provides;

• supplying the reliable ocean intelligence required for safe, efficient and low-impact

operations and regulatory frameworks across sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture,

biotechnology, offshore energy, tourism, ports and shipping, finance or insurance,

thereby boosting the competitiveness of a sustainable, regenerative, and still largely

untapped blue economy;

• creating new demand opportunities for Europe’s maritime manufacturing base

linked to specialised vessels, equipment and technologies (e.g. oceanographic research

vessels, drones, drone-carriers, sensors, underwater robotics) fostering European

technologial leadership and industrial sovereignity;

• strengthening the preparedness and resilience of coastal, island and outermost regions

by improving meteorological and climate forecasting, risk assessments and early

warning systems to support communities and blue economy actors in adapting to the

effects of climate change and to other natural and man-made hazards including

geological risks, marine pollution and waste, transport accidents and geopolitical

disruptions;

• enhancing maritime situational awareness, situational intelligence and the protection of

critical offshore and subsea infrastructures, thereby contributing to strengthening

maritime security, safety and defence.

Ocean observation is also an economic sector in its own, with strong growth potential. It is

estimated that each euro invested in ocean observing systems generates a return of EUR 5-6 in

economic and societal benefits.6 UNESCO estimated the public investments in global in situ

ocean observation at EUR 0.85 – 1.3 billion per year, which covers only 60–70% of the

required system7. Other sources estimate annual global spending at EUR 2 billion, of which

about EUR 500 million in the EU8. At the same time, all US economic activities directly related

to ocean observation products and services, have been estimated worth EUR 7 billion, and

serving a much larger business ecosystem valued at EUR 35-80 billion9.

OceanEye aims at:

(1) strengthening national and European efforts and coordination structures focussed

on the in situ ocean observations,

(2) creating an international alliance to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System,

(3) establishing a European Digital Ocean System, that integrates existing European

marine knowledge services and is fed by both in situ and satellite observations, with a

view to ensuring operational services while facilitating innovation and value-added

services and creating new markets for Europe’s maritime manufacturing base.

6 https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/ioos_devplan.pdf and

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2021/07/value-chains-in-public-marine-

data_ec9a528e/d8bbdcfa-en.pdf 7 https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/files/2022/02/en-ocean-presskit.pdf 8 Data collected through the Expert Group on Ocean Observation and from other reports 9 NOAA, 2021. The Ocean Enterprise 2015 – 2020: A study of U.S. New Blue Economy business activity.

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The European Union and its Member States have invested significantly in ocean

observation over the past few decades. The EU has progressively assumed a position of global

leadership in the delivery of integrated ocean data, knowledge and forecasting services and

possesses a world-leading marine knowledge value chain underpinned by three strategic assets:

• Copernicus notably its Marine Service10.

• The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)11

• WISE-Marine and WISE Freshwater12

These assets, as well as more specific data and knowledge platforms13, and the forthcoming

European Digital Twin Ocean14, empower the EU to monitor the state of the ocean both

locally and globally. They depend on continuous, high-quality, in situ as well as space-

based, and global ocean data streams.

However, ocean observation in Europe and globally, is fragmented and lacks systemic

operational commitment and efficiency, facing extreme funding constraints, that are

further exacerbated by geopolitical changes. Reliance on underfunded and increasingly

fragile observing systems exposes EU and global knowledge assets and services to disruptions,

data gaps and political leverage, creating strategic dependency risks.

The OceanEye initiative is designed to support the development and implementation of a

comprehensive operational ocean observation system, that connects the national, European

and international levels dynamically and structurally based on an operational system that

consists of observations from space (Copernicus, European Space Agency and national space

agencies) and in situ (mainly from national but also from European infrastructures); as well as

digital systems: national and European data systems (national oceanographic data centres,

EMODnet), processing and modelling infrastructures (e.g. Copernicus Marine Service,

European Digital Twin Ocean, EC Blue2 modelling framework) and delivering operational

services.

Following the model of operational meteorological monitoring and forecasting, these elements

will create a system in which countries structure and coordinate their contribution of in situ

ocean observations and, in return, optimise their benefits from the highest-quality ocean

monitoring, forecasting and sector-specific services at local, regional and global scale.

The OceanEye initiative is underpinned by four strategic pillars:

• Pillar I, focuses on enhancing in situ ocean observation, better data sharing and use

by establishing an EU governance framework, that is appropriately linked to the

other components of the European Ocean Observing System.

10 https://marine.copernicus.eu/ 11 https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu 12 https://water.europa.eu 13 such as those for maritime transport and fisheries of the EMSA, EFCA and the JRC 14 https://www.edito.eu/european-digital-twin-ocean-about/

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• Pillar II focuses on the international dimension, particularly by launching an

international alliance to support the Global Ocean Observing System15.

• Pillar III focuses on developing innovative markets and sectors related to ocean

observations, including through the European Digital Twin Ocean.

• Pillar IV focuses on fostering engagement, understanding, trust, and an emotional

connection to the ocean through strategic partnerships, outreach, education and

skills, culture and societal ownership.

Pillar I: EU governance – supporting the European

Ocean Observing System While current and planned space observation infrastructures are well organised (through the

cooperation between the EU, the European Space Agency, the European Organisation for the

Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, national and international space agencies), additional

efforts are required to better organise the various in situ observation infrastructures and

programmes more efficiently. This includes improving the integration of EU marine

knowledge assets with national assets, which would also strengthen the corresponding digital

systems.

Similarly, digital infrastructures, notably AI, high performance computing and cloud systems,

are fundamental enablers for ocean observations and have transformed their potential.

Nevertheless, today, European and national entities rely on research-based infrastructures

which are not designed to offer operational, secure and continuous services.

The lack of coordination and governance, at both national and European levels, leads to

inefficiencies, financial costs, and critical gaps in monitoring, limiting the benefits that Member

States receive from their investments.

1.1 Establishing a European governance framework for Ocean

Observation

The Commission proposes establishing a governance structure for European ocean

observation.It will be established in the Ocean Act (scheduled by end 2026) and build on

existing structures such as the European Ocean Board16. The Ocean Pact dashboard to be

launched at the end of 2026 will also help monitor progress.

The goal of this Ocean Observation governance framework is to consolidate the entire marine

knowledge value chain by providing a structured interface between observation needs and

knowledge providers across sectors and policies. It will support the definition and agreement

of the system’s operational requirements, while improving its overall organisation and

coordination. To achieve this, it will bring together all relevant actors, in a structured way:

15 The text uses the term global ocean observing system in full to refer to the global system for sustained

ocean observations and the acronym GOOS to refer to the programme led by UNESCO’s

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (https://goosocean.org/who-we-are/). 16 The high-level expert group supporting the implementation of the European Ocean Pact

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First the EU and Member States supported by technical bodies at national and European level

to focus on adopting common standards and operational in situ measurements. Second, it will

interface with other European and national level actors responsible for other components.

Third, it will reach out to users, such as the research community, as well as other stakeholders

and users (such as the maritime and offshore energy sectors, cultural actors, education

professional, etc.). Finally, it will establish a relevant interface and common European and

national positions towards the international communities expressed through a dialogue with

EuroGOOS17.

Lines of work could include:

• joint priority setting, identification of areas of strategic interest for technological

development, agreements on roadmaps and technical specifications on the basis of

common needs;

• coordination of European research infrastructures. For instance, this could include

research vessels (building on the experience of EuroFleets18), as well as potential

collaboration with the industry (e.g. through multi sensor fishing vessels) to address

current gaps in marine data collection;

• system design, metrology, work on common standards (e.g. standards on observation

and measurement methods, data and meta-data, data processing, digital infrastructures,

and reporting requirements, etc.), planning strategies and tools;

• facilitation of multiannual co-funding mechanisms, synergies between programmes and

funds;

• coordinated action in the global landscape (within global bodies such as the IOC, the

World Meteorological Organisation or regional sea conventions);

• data policies, to be further detailed as part of the forthcoming proposal on an Ocean

Act, taking into account several critical elements such as national, EU and international

commitments, Member States’ competences, European and national autonomy,

existing international agreements, security-related constraints, protection of sensitive

and security information related to the economic activities and resource management

activities, and other relevant legal and operational considerations. Given the sensitive

nature of ocean observation in the context of maritime security, it is essential to

establish a balanced and mutually agreed data sharing approach among relevant parties

where necessary

• opportunities for improved data sharing as access to high-quality in situ data is key to

the European Digital Ocean System and for the development of European Digital Twin

Ocean applications, especially those of a local and sectoral nature.

Member States are encouraged to set up a national coordination structure, aimed at

increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of national and European ocean observation

activities.

17 https://eurogoos.eu/ 18 The aim of Eurofleets, established with the help of successive European Research projects, is to strengthen

cooperation and coordination between the European oceanographic fleets in order to optimize and facilitate

the deployment of these national marine facilities, see https://www.eurofleets.eu/

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1.2. Establishing a European Digital Ocean System

The integration of Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet into a European digital ocean

system, and with the appropriate interfaces with WISE-Marine, WISE freshwater and other

assets, will further unlock their potential, reduce fragmentation and ensure a seamless

operational flow of information from observation to knowledge services. This simplification,

supported by an industrial-scale operation, will generate resource and productivity gains,

creating a single, reliable, entry point for stakeholders while maximising the value and impact

of EU marine knowledge assets.

By improving the collection, access, sharing, and interoperability of ocean data, the system will

foster innovation across the blue economy, strengthen the competitiveness of European

industries and service providers. It will accelerate the development of new digital applications,

forecasting capabilities, and data-driven solutions for public and private users alike, supporting

the develoment of a data-driven market.

This digital infrastructure will make it possible to monitor the deployment of ocean observation

infrastructure which will help improve coherence and coordination among the different

contributors at European and global level.

This emerging operational digital system could benefit from an integrated governance with

Copernicus, currently including the Copernicus Configuration Committee and the Copernicus

User Forum. In the broad perspective of an effective support to environmental, blue economy

and security uses, the integrated governance will allow to build dynamic interactions with all

Copernicus services, including the climate, emergency, security and maritime surveillance

services and further to the proposed Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS)19.

Defence and security users have specific operational and security needs. Accordingly, there

may be a need for the establishment of dedicated thematic assembly centres /shields for

dedicated and secure data and information production and distribution contributing as needed

to national and European defence flagships and other structures (e.g. European Defence

Projects of Common Interest or SEAs).

Following the model of operational meteorological monitoring and forecasting, this European

digital ocean system will provide reliable and operational services to users across a wide range

of sectors and applications. This integration is a prerequisite for successfully making the

European Digital Twin Ocean operational by 2030 and functioning as a comprehensive and

trusted public service for ocean knowledge, forecasting, and decision-making, including a

source-to-sea approach to reflect the priorities of the Water Resilience Strategy.

Mercator Ocean International is currently entrusted by the European Commission with the

implementation of the Copernicus Marine Service and is one of the main developers of the

European Digital Twin Ocean. Its ongoing transformation into an intergovernmental

organisation will provide the long-term stability and shared ownership required by its strategic

role and will help ensuring effective connection of the European digital ocean system with, and

reliance on, national digital infrastructures and systems. Through its involvement in

Copernicus, Mercator Ocean International will also contribute to Ocean Eye.

19 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/developing-reconnaissance-capabilities-eu-level-2024-01-23_en

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Therefore, the Commission proposes to bring together existing European marine

knowledge management assets in a European digital ocean system, through the extension

of the scope of the Copernicus Marine Service.

Pillar II: The international dimension

2.1 An international alliance for the global ocean observing system

GOOS (Global Ocean Obsesrvation System) coordinates a global system of sustained in situ

ocean observations, based on Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) across physics,

biogeochemistry, biology and ecosystems. Through a globally integrated infrastructure of

ocean observing networks and national and regional observing initiatives, it provides the basis

delivering essential ocean information that supports ecosystem-based management, economies,

and communities worldwide.

Despite the essential role of in situ ocean observation, the system remains vulnerable to

financial and geopolitical disruptions. It still depends heavily on a small number of major

contributors and lacks sufficient back up capacity to ensure long-term stability.20

Key components, such as Argo and tropical moorings21, are at risk of degradation, with

projections indicating a 35% loss of Argo capacity by 2030 if corrective action is not taken.

Significant gaps persist in the Southern Hemisphere, the Arctic, deep-sea regions and coastal

zones.

The EU is highly dependent on the global ocean observing system. Flagship services such as

those offered by Copernicus (mainly Marine, Maritime Surveillance and Climate services) and

the European Digital Twin Ocean require continuous, high-quality global ocean data which

have a critical impact on the performance monitoring and forecasting services. Large parts of

these global ocean data lie beyond direct EU control.

To address these challenges, the EU and its Member States should strengthen their ocean

diplomacy, outreach and strategic partnerships with like-minded third countries on ocean

observing data, as well as increase and better coordinate their support for the global ocean

observing system. They should assume a stronger global leadership role and call on

international partners to join the EU in increasing their contributions and sharing responsibility

for sustaining the global ocean observing system. In return, countries would benefit from more

observations collected by their peers, generating high-quality marine knowledge.

Therefore, the Commission proposes to:

• launch an International Alliance to support the global ocean observing system.

The objectives of the International Alliance will be to:

- broaden the support for the global ocean observing system, including through financial

or in-kind contributions;

20 See status Report 2025, available at https://www.ocean-ops.org/goosreport/goosreport2025.pdf 21 Argo floats are autonomous drifting instruments that typically measure temperature and salinity throughout

the water column, surfacing periodically to transmit data via satellite. Moorings are fixed ocean observing

systems anchored in place that continuously measure ocean and atmospheric conditions such as

temperature, winds, and currents.

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- improve the governance approach of the global ocean observing system to make it

more structured, effective, and equitably funded, while securing the continuous data

collection and access;

- sustain existing ocean observing infrastructure (gliders, buoys, observatories, Argo

floats, etc.);

- close critical in situ observation gaps, to complete global networks, expand them into

coastal domains and address blind spots;

- support international and multilateral commitments, including the implementation of

Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National

Jurisdictions) Agreement22, by enabling evidence-based decision-making.

Members of the international alliance for the global ocean observing system may include

countries, philanthropic organisations and private partners. They should make

commitments in line with their respective capacities. These commitments may include

mobilising financial resources, providing access to observation capacities (such as

observation vessels, sensors, drones and submarine cables), investing in and/or providing

access to observation and digital infrastructures, dedicating human and technical capacity

to the IOC or GOOS, and making available relevant data. Participation in the International

Alliance will ensure better coordination of global ocean observation efforts thus rendering

the use of infrastructure and assets more effective.

• establish a strategic partnership with the IOC

As the intergovernmental body that coordinates GOOS and the International

Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange, the IOC provides the institutional

framework within which strategic priorities, standards and implementation arrangements

are shaped.

Through the OceanEye structured governance at European level, the EU will be able to

establish common European positions on important issues such as priority setting, gap

identification, standards, and the further development of the system.

Therefore, the Commission will propose a Memorandum of Understanding between the

EU and the IOC. that will ensure closer alignment between GOOS, the proposed European

governance and the international alliance.

• as a starting point, contribute to the Alliance in two ways:

Through the EMODnet Global Data service,23 by extending the mandate of EMODnet to

actively contribute to more resilient international marine in situ data flows;

Through a dedicated EUR 50 million action under the current Horizon Europe

Programme to strengthen the global ocean in situ observing system.

22 https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en 23 EUR 12 million public procurement. https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-

2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-

environment_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf

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The Commission will explore, together with Member States, how the EU can further support

global ocean observation through improved coordination and greater long-term financial

predictability.

2.2 Supporting global capacity development

A robust global ocean observing system is vital for the countries and regions most vulnerable

to climate and oceanic changes, notably small island developing states (SIDS) and least

developed countries (LDCs) which are at the forefront of risks related to climate change and

biodiversity loss, and which need sustainable ocean economies the most.

The participation of SIDS and LDCs in the International Alliance will ensure that they can

meaningfully shape the design and priorities of the global ocean observing system, without

making their engagement contingent upon their domestic capacity to finance and operate

observing infrastructures.

In addition, the EU will consider a range of instruments (including financial instruments) that

could be mobilised by the EU and other actors to further support global ocean observing, in

line with the Global Gateway strategy and the Pact for the Mediterranean, where relevant, to:

• support efforts of SIDS and LDCs in developing their own observing capacities,

for instance by building on EU technologies, and contributing to the global ocean

observing system;

• co-develop digital tools with and for states and regions with limited capacities,

ensuring they have access to tailored support and capacity-building initiatives.

Pillar III: The operational and industrial dimension

3.1 Operationalising the digital infrastructure

The European Digital Twin Ocean aims to make ocean knowledge readily available to the

public, entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers. Subject to the data policy to be further

defined in the Ocean Act, it is conceived as a public good and therefore proposed to be owned

by the European Union. Through its core infrastructure, EDITO24, it provides a virtual

representation of the ocean, enabling seamless access to integrated and actionable marine

information.

The European Digital Twin Ocean needs to harness unprecedented operational digital

capacities, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and advanced

cloud infrastructures, to process and analyse vast volumes of ocean data and run complex,

scalable simulations across all domains, from physics processes to socio-ecological systems. It

integrates historical and real-time data from multiple sources, including satellites, sensors,

numerical models and even personal devices like smartphone applications. Moving well

beyond monitoring, it allows users to explore “what-if” scenarios, simulating the potential

impacts of different policy options, climate warming scenarios/trajectories or economic

activities before decisions are taken. However, dedicated digital infrastructures providing the

24 https://www.edito.eu/

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computing capabilities that meet the operational requirements of the ocean digital services are

currently lacking.

Therefore, the Commission proposes to:

• support the further development of the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) so

that it is fully operational at the latest by 2030, as a public service for the Europeans

and as an offering for the rest of the world, possibly through integrating it into the

Copernicus Marine Service and ensuring interoperability and synergy with Destination

Earth, HPC, cloud and AI infrastructures;

• develop a joint plan with relevant initiatives (notably Copernicus and Destination

Earth) for acquiring appropriate high performance computing capabilities, tailored to

address their operational requirements and contribute to the Digital Ocean System and

the broader ecosystem of Earth-system modelling;

• provide support for research and innovation for developing targeted European

DTO applications for policy for both the public and private sectors, also by building

on existing DTO components, such as the EC Blue2 modelling framework applications;

• develop the marine thematic node of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)25,

as a component of EDITO, ensuring the interoperability of ocean data with other

thematic EOSC nodes;

• by 2030, fully operationalise the source-to-sea digital continuum that underpins

both the Ocean Pact and Water Resilience Strategy, by developing coupled models

among Copernicus, the European Digital Twin Ocean and Destination Earth and by

establishing standardised open-source connectors to bridge the gap with local inland

waters digital systems;

• facilitate the development of downstream services for the public and local

stakeholders, particularly by supporting demonstrators, prototypes, common technical

specifications and training in order to support resilience strategies, inform biodiversity

conservation plans, and facilitate the contributions of locally generated data, including

through citizen science;

• remain mindful of the needs of the EU’s outermost regions and islands, low-

income countries and small island developing states, and explore the development

of tailored services, targeted training, and support for access to and use EU

infrastructures for the development of their own capacities.

3.2 Strengthening Europe’s ocean observation innovation and

industrial base

Knowledge is a key asset. In a context of growing climate risks, maritime interdependence

and geopolitical competition, the ability to explore the ocean has become a strategic asset.

Although no single authoritative study consolidates all relevant activities under a single ocean

observation category, different studies indicate that the global annual ocean observation

market is worth between EUR 10 and 20 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of

25 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/our-digital-

future/open-science/european-open-science-cloud-eosc_en

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around 5-10%. This serves a much larger business ecosystem worth EUR 40 to 90 billion, in

which the United States holds the largest share.26,27

For the EU, becoming a global leader in ocean observation technologies is therefore a

fundamental economic and geopolitical choice and a strategic imperative for resilience and

competitiveness in a rapidly changing geopolitical context.

Particular attention will be given to deep-tech startups and scale-ups developing breakthrough

solutions in sensors, autonomous systems, value added services based on data and data

products, artificial intelligence, and digital twins. In line with its startup and scale-up strategy,

the Commission will work towards supporting the transition from research to market,

improving access to finance and use public procurement to stimulate demand and accelerate

deployment, possibly through regulatory sandboxes28.

Innovation policy will therefore combine technology push with demand-driven

development. Ocean observation technologies must respond to clearly set out industrial, policy

and regulatory needs, including climate adaptation and mitigation, environmental compliance,

security and defence, fisheries and aquaculture, biodiversity monitoring, marine protected

areas, offshore infrastructure protection, maritime safety, transport, tourism and offshore

energy. Aligning research, regulation and market demand would accelerate deployment and

help European companies to capture emerging markets in cost-effective and autonomous

monitoring, AI-enabled ocean intelligence, and integrated space-ocean systems.

Dual-use and security-by-design considerations will be integral to this approach. To

strengthen maritime domain awareness, particularly in maritime security, military mobility,

and the climate and defence nexus - while protecting critical underwater infrastructure and

developing secure data architectures, it is necessary to have resilient and trusted technologies.

By embedding cybersecurity, compliance and interoperability into system design, the EU can

position itself as a global provider of secure and responsible ocean intelligence solutions

addressing among others needs from Security and Defence Partnerships.

As malicious actors increasingly exploit grey-zone tactics, ranging from cyberattacks and

sabotage to foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation,

robust maritime observation capabilities - from space to the seabed - are essential for detecting,

deterring, and mitigating risks before they escalate into systemic disruptions. By improving

real-time monitoring and information-sharing mechanisms, the EU can strengthen its strategic

autonomy while countering hybrid interference that seeks to exploit vulnerabilities in the

maritime domain and enhancing resilience against kinetic and non-kinetic threats.

26 2021 study “Uptake of new technology for ocean observation”, Service Contract

EASME/EMFF/2020/3.1.16/SI2.833154-SC08. Updated and improved figures will emerge from the

ongoing “Study on the competitiveness of EU sustainable blue economy sectors: focus on ocean

observation technologies” Service Contract CINEA/EMFAF/2025/3.5/Lot2/02/SC10/4500128122

implementing framework contract No CINEA/2021/OP/0011 – LOT 2. 27 The Ocean Enterprise 2015-2020: A study of U.S. New Blue Economy business activity 28 For instance, by clarifying and enabling low-risk ocean observing activities to the EEZs, reducing

administrative barriers, in full respect of sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal States under United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Marine Scientific Research regime)

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The new European Competitiveness Fund, working in synergy with the next Horizon Europe

programme, will provide seamless support to European innovators, from research and

innovation to deployment also for technologies relevant to ocean observation, in line with the

proposed “Moonshot” ambition. Synergies and complementarities of measures under the

relevant EU spending programmes for ocean observation policy will be pursued in line with

their respective policy objectives and governance.

Therefore, the Commission proposes:

• promoting a coherent innovation-to-investment journey in line with the proposed

‘moonshot’ ambition;

• setting out priorities for ocean observation in its research and innovation strategy

for Ocean and Water and strengthen the investment journey, from fundamental

research to innovation and scaling up;

• using EC Strategic Foresight29 to support the development of a robust and resilient

system;

• committing EUR 30 million for a European Innovation Council thematic challenge

on ocean observation technologies, under the Horizon Europe work programme for

2027, to prepare key innovation pathways to leverage investment in view of OceanEye.

Pillar IV: Strategic partnerships, education and skills, culture and societal ownership 4.1 Deepening collaboration with private, national and international initiatives Beyond the international alliance, the OceanEye initiative will proactively build strategic

partnerships with private actors, national programmes and international initiatives to strengthen

the coherence and global impact of ocean observation.; including in the context of Security and

Defence Partnerships that have a maritime security component, or in key regions such as the

Arctic.

By aligning investments and priorities, the initiative will leverage national capacities and

research infrastructures while fostering engagement with industry. One notable example is

Mission Neptune, an international initiative; recently launched by the French government, to

accelerate deep-ocean exploration.

Furthermore, the recently launched Knowledge and Innovation Community on Water30 (EIT

Water) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology is building a strong

European innovation ecosystem around water and ocean innovation. It will contribute to the

objectives of the initiative by bringing together top businesses, research centres, and

29 https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/strategic-foresight-eu_en 30 Focusing on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems

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universities to provide entrepreneurial education, innovation-driven research and business

support activities.

Existing philanthropic activities promoting ocean protection and/or conservation, for example

through marine protected areas, could be strengthened with an observation and/or exploration

component to make them more effective and strategic. The OceanEye initiative will further

mobilise philanthropists, promote social engagement and enhance international visibility,

particularly through common branding, recognising that sustained ocean observation requires

broad societal support as well as public investment. To increase visibility of OceanEye, a label

for all infrastructure contributing to the initiative will be developed.Through co-investment

mechanisms and coordinated programming, the OceanEye initiative will create a trusted

ecosystem in which public and private actors will work together to deliver sustained

observations, innovation and operational services.

4.2 Connecting Europeans to the ocean: ocean observation as a pathway to connecting people and inspiring civic engagement and action When translated into meaningful action, ocean observation can reshape how Europeans

understand, value and relate to the ocean. To foster collective societal ownership, the OceanEye

initiative will develop a strong educational, cultural and outreach dimension, that bridges

science, entrepreneurship, art, education and society. The Commission will explore – for

example under the New European Bauhaus - the development of lines of action linking art,

culture and ocean science in order to bring ocean observation out of offshore laboratories or

digital dashboards and bring it into public spaces, ports, museums and coastal cities across

Europe. The aim will be not only to communicate science, but also to cultivate imagination,

empathy and shared stewardship.

Ocean observation is also a source of high-quality employment and innovation. By showcasing

career pathways and connecting education with industry, the Commission will support the

development of a skilled workforce capable of sustaining Europe’s leadership in the blue and

digital economies, including through a blue generational renewal strategy in 2027. Emphasis

will be placed on interdisciplinary skills that bridge science, digital technologies, engineering

and communication.

The OceanEye initiative will further strengthen ocean literacy by leveraging the EU4Ocean

coalition31, which has enhanced Europeans’ knowledge of our ocean and waters since 2020,

and other scientific and educational networks such as the Network of European Blue Schools,

the Youth4Ocean Forum, the European Atlas of the Seas, the Education for Climate Coalition,

and the eTwinning network on the European School Education Platform.

Therefore, the Commission proposes:

• launching the New European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities

Lab, seeking to bridge ocean observation with art, design and civic engagement and

bringing ocean knowledge closer to society. This could take the form of travelling

31 https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/ocean-literacy-and-blue-skills/ocean-literacy/eu4ocean-

coalition_en

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installations, public events or collaborations with museums, artists, research

institutions, cultural networks and civil society, translating ocean data into accessible

and meaningful experiences and fostering a stronger bond between Europeans and the

sea and transforming ocean observation into a civic and cultural tool;

• bringing ocean observation in education, in particular, to children and young

people through EU4Ocean by making ocean observation the overarching theme of

EU4Ocean’s activities in 2027 and thereby supporting the objectives of the OceanEye

initiative. Through an Ocean Observation Week in schools, European Blue Schools

and youth projects, awareness campaigns, a thematic working group and dedicated

#MakeEUBlue awards, EU4Ocean will support and recognise initiatives that combine

ocean data with education and public engagement. In collaboration with UNESCO,

EU4Ocean will host a summer school where young people from Europe and beyond

can learn about and engage directly with ocean observation;

• promoting knowledge-based jobs and skills linked to ocean technologies, data

science, maritime operations and environmental monitoring, with particular focus on

supporting early-career ocean professionals including though maritime vocational

education. These efforts will be complemented by EU4Ocean mentoring and

traineeship schemes for young people interested in ocean-related careers, as well as

dedicated workshops at key European flagship events such as the European Youth

Week, European Ocean Days and European Maritime Day.

• launching annual communication campaigns in collaboration with the EU

research vessels fleet, to open research vessels to the public in European ports.

V. Access to finance and investment The annual financing needed to achieve the level of ambition for the OceanEye initiative, has

been estimated at three to four times the current level of investment. Significant investment

needs have been identified to sustain and improve the in situ ocean observation network,

develop digital tools for knowledge integration and support continued research investments to

further develop services.

Meeting these investment needs requires the coordinated use of current and future EU funding,

national measures, and actions to attract private capital across the entire innovation to

investment journey. Dedicated advisory, matchmaking and project pipeline tools, such as

BlueInvest32 and the EIB Advisory under the InvestEU Advisory Hub33, can facilitate access

to resources and create favourable conditions for financing projects.

However, key gaps remain:

• In situ observation infrastructures should be made operational, shared and compliant

with quality standards and common technical specifications. There is also a need for

dedicated operational digital infrastructures.

• Ocean observation systems are characterised by short-term, research project-based

funding, while the substantial investments required for technological capacity building,

are infrequent and lack well-defined time horizons. Long-term operational funding is

32 https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/investments/blueinvest_en 33 https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme/investeu-advisory-hub_en

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required to ensure the continuous operation of the systems and to strengthening the

observation networks (e.g. deep-sea moorings and biological monitoring).

• EU funding is fragmented with distinct rules and timelines, leading to limited

predictability and insufficient strategic coherence. The proposal for the next

multiannual financial framework aims at addressing such fragmentation.

• Private-sector engagement is limited, particularly in high-capital-expenditure areas

such as autonomous underwater vehicles and satellite constellations, and insufficient

support for data standardisation and interoperability, which hinders the ambition of the

European Digital Twin Ocean.

Starting in 2026 and 2027, the Commission will mobilise available resources and existing

instruments in support of the OceanEye initiative.

To support the innovation-to-investment journey, the Commission will explore how its full

range of instruments can best work together in synergy and complementarity. Horizon

Europe will aim to continue to support breakthrough research and demonstration and, under

the European Innovation Council, will back high-risk, high-impact innovators.

The next multiannual financial framework could help support the objectives of the OceanEye

initiative, including through the proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). National

and Regional Partnership Plans could support fisheries, aquaculture, marine activities and the

European Ocean Pact.

The Commission calls on the Member States to increase their support for ocean

observation and align national budgets with EU priorities, ensuring stable funding for

improved long-term observation series.

Member States are also encouraged to:

• expand national ocean observation programmes, align national marine research

budgets with EU priorities and ensure stable funding for long-term observation series;

• promote public procurement of ocean observation services, for example through

pre-commercial procurement to stimulate innovation in real-time marine data delivery

for public agencies;

• foster industry-academia partnerships for example by encouraging national

innovation agencies to support ocean tech incubators and living labs, including testing

autonomous gliders in real-world conditions.

Conclusions Ocean observation and the marine knowledge value chain are critical for sustainability,

competitiveness, resilience, strategic autonomy and security. Yet, in Europe and globally,

ocean observation is fragmented, faces funding constraints and data gaps, and lacks efficiency

and operational commitment. These challenges are exacerbated by a shifting geopolitical

context, creating strategic dependency risks.

The OceanEye initiative is a strategic EU endeavour to deliver a comprehensive operational

European ocean observing system.

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By further developing and mobilising the full range of partnerships, infrastructure and marine

knowledge assets at its disposal, the EU can secure its strategic autonomy in ocean observation,

infrastructure, data and information services while also recognising its dual use, and position

itself as a reliable global partner and a value-driven leader in international cooperation.

The upcoming legislative proposal for an Ocean Act will develop a robust, integrated, and

multidisciplinary European marine knowledge value chain — turning data into action, and

science into solutions for all. This will strengthen the competitiveness of the European

industrial ecosystem for ocean observation technologies and user-centred services.

The Commission will work with the other EU institutions, Member States, stakeholders, and

international partners to deliver this operational system, partnerships and governance that lie

at the heart of the OceanEye initiative.