Norwegian Ocean Clusters' Moonshot Missions

On 28 April 2017 the Norwegian Ocean Clusters sent their preliminary positions on the EU’s next research and innovation programme FP9, outlining what to prioritise. Recognising the role of subsea technology as a key enabling technology for Blue Growth is one of the main positions.

The EUs ninth framework programme for research and innovation (FP9) starts in 2020. Preparatory work is already underway across the EU. On 8 March 2018 Norway’s Ocean Clusters - GCE Subsea, GCE NODE, GCE Blue Maritime, NCE Seafood and Blue Legasea – sent their recommendations to the EU on a Mission Oceans to create European industrial leaders and markets through sustainable exploitation of the oceans.

Considering that we know more about space than we do about the oceans we propose to break down Mission Oceans into three main “moonshot” missions:

1. Smart Ocean is the global standard of ocean operations and monitoring by 2030
2. The ocean is providing 30 per cent of sustainable energy by 2030
3. The ocean is providing 10 per cent of sustainable food and feed by 2030

These are simple, practical thoughts on how to create new ocean industries and new markets through innovation in a commercially sustainable and operationally safe way. Implementation is harder and will require us all, collectively, to change the way we understand the ocean.

Read the Norwegian Ocean Clusters’ proposition.