Cooperation

Europe

Working focus

Horizon Europe

JPI Oceans

KDM Brussels

Cooperation in Europe is of particular importance for German marine research. With the aim of bundling common interests, pooling resources and creating scientific exchange opportunities, collaborative initiatives with partners from all over Europe are elementary.

Opening of the Our Blue Future Exhibition at the European Parliament on 24 January 2012 | Photo: Horst Wagner|eup-images

Focus of KDM's work in Brussels

  1. Helping to shape funding priorities - The exhibition scientifically coordinated by KDM Ocean Plastics Lab has contributed to the EU Commission's selection of Healthy Seas as one of the five missions for the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 programme has selected.
    The MarineKIC initiative initiated by KDM has been instrumental in the European Institute of Technology's call for tenders on the topic of "Sea and Water" in 2025 with an expected funding volume of over 300 million euros.
  2. The political visibility of marine research - KDM has so far conducted almost 30 scientific briefings and events for decision-makers with a total of over 1,000 participants. 
  3. The networking of science and social actors - KDM has contributed to networking within science as well as between science and society in Europe and internationally through various projects, exhibitions and events. Examples are the V.ECOP Day for the launch of the UN Ocean Decade, the international touring exhibition Ocean Plastics Lab and as a member of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance.

Priorities of the EU marine research policy 2021-27

EU Ocean & Water Mission

The EU's Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters mission has the following core objectives by 2030:

  • Clean up marine and fresh waters from litter and noise pollution;
  • restore damaged ecosystems and habitats;
  • Avoid carbon emissions from industry to make essential goods and services sustainable.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the 9th EU Research Framework Programme and the largest single funding programme for research and innovation worldwide. This programme will continue to fund collaborative research and basic research and, newly, innovation.

KIC Water

The Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) "Water" planned by the EU Institute of Innovation and Technology will now develop innovative solutions and an integrated approach to the pressing challenges in the water, marine and maritime sectors and the associated ecosystems in order to strengthen the blue economy and increase Europe's competitiveness.
The KIC is expected to commence operations in 2026 and can expect start-up funding of up to EUR 5 million. Experience shows that further funding will amount to around EUR 20 to 35 million per year in the first few years.

Important cooperations & networks

New video of the European Marine Board

JPI Oceans

The Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) was launched in 2011 as a coordinating and strategic platform. JPI Oceans, with its current 21 member states, aims at a common, integrated approach to marine and maritime research and technology development in Europe.

European Marine Board

The European Marine Board is Europe's leading marine research policy think tank, providing strategies and concepts to drive European marine research forward. The Marine Board has 35 member organisations from 18 countries.

EuroMarine

EuroMarine is a European network for marine sciences that was launched in 2014. It represents the merger of the scientific communities of three former European Networks of Excellence: EUR-OCEAN, Marine Genomics Europe and MarBEF.

EU projects

KDM and its members are actively involved in the EU Research Framework Programme. From 2021 to 2027, the programme runs under the name "Horizon Europe" and includes several hundred million euros for marine research.