Towards a European network of ocean technology testing sites

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes: Harmonized approaches and processes across sites to ensure consistent and simplified access, taking into consideration the sensitivity of marine ecosystems in and around the sites; Accelerated innovation cycles for ocean technologies, shortened time-to-market and reduced costs and risks associated with offshore trials; Availability of cost-efficient at physical testing sites and expertise reducing the need for specialised in-house equipment and competencies; Enhanced ocean technologies ecosystem in support of European leadership in the global market; Provision of cost-efficient access to testing sites and expertise, reducing the need for specialised in-house equipment and competencies. Scope: The development and deployment of innovative ocean technologies for a wide range of applications are paving the way for more sustainable use of marine resources, for effective ocean monitoring and observation, for enhancing security and safety of offshore operations and infrastructures. Access to dedicated offshore sites for testing and validating these technologies in real-world marine environments can be cumbersome. There is a need to accelerate the innovation cycles of these technologies and support companies in the transition from laboratory to market-ready solutions. This topic is closely linked with the Technology Infrastructure initiatives under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital,…