IMG_1331 100 Billion EUR for 2020-2027
On Monday 7 May Tanja met with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) siting in the Industry Committee (ITRE). The Industry Committee decides the direction of the EU’s Research and Innovation programme which is currently proposed to be financed with EUR 100 billion for 2020-2027. Tanja presented the Norwegian Ocean Clusters’ ambitious «Mission Oceans» programme aiming to strengthen the framework in which the emerging ocean industries will operate.
“Mission Oceans” is the vision of the Norwegian ocean clusters to create new ocean industries. We expect the future ocean industries to emerge through innovation in the interface between traditional ocean industries such as oil & gas, aquaculture and shipping, enabled by ICT, especially advanced sensor technology, and Key Enabling Technologies such as advanced materials, biotechnology and nanotechnology. EU funding schemes should make it easier to mobilise ingenuity, excellent capabilities and competent capital across Europe to accelerate the rate of innovation during the early stage and particularly during the critical phase from proof of concept to commercialisation (TRL 3 – TRL9). To turn these innovations into entire industries and markets will require both competent capital and the industrial capability found in the traditional ocean industries. Getting this right will allow European industrial leaders to build and maintain positions in new and emerging markets including Asia.