Marine ecosystems provide a unique environment with an enormous potential to contribute to environmental and human health and to the sustainable supply of food, energy and biomaterials. Marine biotechnology is, and will become even more, central to delivering these benefits from the sea. In the European context, marine biotechnology can and should make an important contribution towards meeting the 'Grand Challenges' for the 21st century and the development of greener, smarter economies, central components of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

 

A sound strategy and a concerted coordination of relevant national and regional RTDI programmes are urgently needed in Europe to allow this potential to be realised. The main goal of the CSA MarineBiotech is to reduce current fragmentation and duplication, and pave the way for common programmes and cooperation. This will include the provision and utilisation of common research infrastructures through a future ERA-NET in marine biotechnology.

This requires:

• Mobilisation of funding agencies and key stakeholders in the marine biotechnology
  
  
   
• Gaining a better understanding of the marine biotechnology landscape in Europe and beyond
  
  
• Informing a targeted audience about Marine Biotechnology research, technology development and innovation (RTDI)
  
  
• Sketching the contours of future cooperation between funding agencies in the area of marine biotechnology
  
  
• Developing a vision of strategic marine biotechnology RTDI that is shared by the interested funding agencies and stakeholders
  

 

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