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ECORD and Japan are preparing the next generationof Post-2024 Scientific Ocean Drilling Programme
Since its creation in 2003, ECORD has developed a unique European-distributed research
infrastructure that connects research facilities at multiple sites across Europe and Canada
that are engaged in multidisciplinary aspects of subsurface scientific research and have alongstanding culture of cooperation in science, technology and education.
ECORD’s participation in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program and the International Ocean
Discovery Program has been focused on the implementation of Mission-Specific Platform(MSP) expeditions since 2004 and its partnership with NSF and JAMSTEC, has included asignificant contribution to the JOIDES Resolution (JR) and Chikyu drilling ships along withberth exchanges. Despite a general budget which has lowered by about $3M since the startof the current programme, ECORD has been able to optimize its resources to dedicate 90% of its budget to the funding of IODP expeditions.
The end of the International Ocean Discovery Program is now scheduled for 30 September
2024. After decades of unified international programmes, from DSDP to the current IODP,
there will be major changes in the organization of international scientific ocean drilling
activities after the end of the current programme. While ECORD has advocated for thecontinuation of a single international program post-2024, NSF has indicated, over the lastyears, its intention to develop an independent US-led program. To prepare this transition,
ECORD has been working on alternative plans, first internally and then through interactions
with its current IODP partners.
In response to a request from NSF, ECORD Council discussed potential access post-2024 tothe JR and the annual financial contribution that ECORD could provide to NSF for thisaccess. ECORD Council has emphasized the importance of its long-standing and fruitfulpartnership with NSF. ECORD Council has also recognised that the JR remains a key
component of scientific ocean drilling and that the ECORD community continues to makea great contribution to the success of JR expeditions. ECORD Council therefore agreed thatthe continuation of the ECORD-NSF partnership after 2024 and continued mutual access todrilling platforms remain high priorities, provided that NSF would approve an extension ofactivities. ECORD’s planning assumption has also considered that its annual basic budget
would likely remain at current levels (i.e., ~$17M pa post-2024), and that any significant
increase in ECORD’s participation to other programmes would impact its MSP operational
plans, which form the basis of its funding by ECORD members. Unfortunately, the potential
exchange of services arrangements with NSF (i.e., berth trading, management of legacy
cores, and the flexible use of JR berths) has not been considered for a post-2024
collaboration.
To prepare for the future of unified international scientific ocean drilling activities, ECORD
and Japan have started to build a post-2024 programme committed to the ‘philosophy’ of
the successive programmes and recognizing the necessity to adopt an innovative approach
tailored to the post-2024 international landscape.
To this end, ECORD and Japan will implement jointly MSP expeditions, inclusive of Chikyu,
and to further develop the MSP concept by diversifying drilling and coring technologies, asdetermined by scientific priorities, operational efficiency and better value for money.
ECORD and Japan anticipate that the new program, open to the international scientificcommunity, will begin immediately after the conclusion of the current IODP. International
governmental and non-governmental entities are invited to participate as Associate
Members for non-platform providers providing cash or in-kind contributions, including
temporary (e.g., project-based) membership, or as Partners for regular platform providers.
In parallel, a foundational principle of the successive international scientific ocean drilling
programs – continuity of core and data legacies – will be maintained beyond theInternational Ocean Discovery Program.

Gilbert Camoin (Director of the ECORD Managing Agency), France Lagroix (Chair of theECORD Council), Angelo Camerlenghi (Chair of ESSAC), Sasha Turchyn (Chair of the EFB),
Dave McInroy (ESO Manager)