SEAS-ERA Towards integrated European marine research strategy and programmes

SEAS-ERA, as an overarching marine FP7 ERA-NET, is of strategic importance for the European Research Area. Several European strategic fora (e.g. ESFRI) and European Commission’s Communications (e.g. Communication on Joint programming – 2008) have emphasised marine research as a field where major synergistic benefits can be reached by improving the coordination of research and infrastructure investments.

SEAS-ERA overall objective is to facilitate the establishment of a stable and durable structure for strengthening marine research across the European Sea Basins.

To do so the project brings together 20 major European Marine Research Funding Organisations from 20 countries in the basin regions of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and the Marine Board-ESF.

SEAS-ERA aims to:

• contribute to setting up of a European Marine and Maritime Research Agenda and develop a stable European overarching operational structure for its implementation
• enhance cooperation between Member States and avoid fragmentation by fostering synergies at regional and European levels towards achievement of Joint Programming
• propose a plan for a better and sustainable use of Marine Research Infrastructures
• improve science development and its utilization in Europe through human capacity building
• enhance public awareness of marine and maritime scientific and policy issues in Europe