COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OceanEye: An EU ocean observation initiative
Date: 2026-06-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: EU initiative, environmental monitoring, environmental protection, international cooperation, marine environment, maritime safety, observation, ocean, oceanography, technological change

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 3.6.2026  COM(2026) 268 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OceanEye: An EU ocean observation initiative  
 
 
Introduction 
OceanEye is an EU initiative to boost ocean observation1, enhance our ability to understand 
and manage the marine environment and maritime activities and strengthen Europe’s related 
innovation and industrial base. 

Building  on  the  existing  EU  assets  and  actions,  OceanEye  serves  as  a  core  delivery 
mechanism of the European Ocean Pact as well as the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy 
vision of anchoring Europe’s leadership in emerging technologies and market segments. 
It positions the EU as a reliable global partner with its action firmly anchored in science and 
aims at bringing the Ocean to the heart of our societies and economy.  

In the spirit of “Choose Europe”2, it builds on the “moonshot” ambition for ocean observation 
outlined in the Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 Horizon Europe Programme3. The 
initiative aims for the EU to provide by 2035 35% of the global ocean observing system, to 
secure  35%  of  the  market  for  ocean  observation  technologies,  and  to  become  the  world’s 
leading provider of ocean intelligence. 

The  ocean  covers  70%  of  the  earth’s  surface,  yet  only  5%  of  it  has  been  explored  and 
mapped. Ocean observation is essential infrastructure, not an optional capability.  

We  must  sustain  the  ocean  that  sustains  us.  The  ocean  is  of  strategic  importance, 
underpinning our security, prosperity and resilience. The ocean is the biggest carbon sink, 
and therefore our ally in the fight against global warming and it generates 50% of the oxygen 
we need4. It is also a central component of the water cycle and provides a wealth of resources, 
notably  as  a  vital  source  of  food  through  fisheries  and  aquaculture,  which  are  also  key  for 
European  food  sovereignty,  territorial  cohesion  and  sustainable  food  systems.  Sustainable 
management of marine activities is key to maintain essential societal functions in a variety of 
sectors. 

The  ocean  is  also  a  key  geopolitical  space  for  maritime  transport,  energy  and  digital 
infrastructure,  maritime  security  and  defence.  In  an  era  of  evolving  hybrid  threats,  the 
resilience of these critical maritime infrastructures has emerged as a strategic priority, making 
sustained  ocean  knowledge  indispensable  for  safeguarding  Europe’s  interests,  strategic 
autonomy and leadership in a rapidly changing world. Also, the EU’s Security and Defence 
Partnerships5 with non-EU countries, including the UK, Norway, Canada, and India, reflect 
the increasing importance of ocean observation in strengthening joint maritime security efforts. 

1   Ocean observation can be defined as the sum of capabilities used to observe the ocean, both from satellite, 

in situ or through any other means. These capabilities are deployed through permanent and ad hoc activities, 
using established monitoring systems, observing platforms, instruments, marine vessels, autonomous 
vehicles and other tools. 

2   https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/choose-europe_en 
3 

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on establishing the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 
Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for the period 2028-2034, laying down 
the rules for participation and dissemination under that Programme, and repealing Decision (EU) 2021/764, 
COM/2025/544 final 

4   The ocean – the world’s greatest ally against climate change | United Nations 
5   https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-security-and-defence-partnerships_en  

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Therefore, a well-functioning Ocean Observation system is crucial for: 

•  generating  sustained,  high-quality  data  on  physical,  chemical  and  biological  ocean 
processes, which is essential for protecting and restoring ocean health, conserving 
marine biodiversity, and maintaining the vital ecosystem services the ocean provides;  
•  supplying  the  reliable  ocean  intelligence  required  for  safe,  efficient  and  low-impact 
operations  and  regulatory  frameworks  across  sectors  such  as  fisheries,  aquaculture, 
biotechnology,  offshore  energy,  tourism,  ports  and  shipping,  finance  or  insurance, 
thereby boosting the competitiveness of a sustainable, regenerative, and still largely 
untapped blue economy; 

•  creating  new  demand  opportunities  for  Europe’s  maritime  manufacturing  base 
linked to specialised vessels, equipment and technologies (e.g. oceanographic research 
vessels,  drones,  drone-carriers,  sensors,  underwater  robotics)  fostering  European 
technologial leadership and industrial sovereignity; 

•  strengthening the preparedness and resilience of coastal, island and outermost regions 
by  improving  meteorological  and  climate  forecasting,  risk  assessments  and  early 
warning systems to support communities and blue economy actors in adapting to the 
effects  of  climate  change  and  to  other  natural  and  man-made  hazards  including 
geological  risks,  marine  pollution  and  waste,  transport  accidents  and  geopolitical 
disruptions; 

•  enhancing maritime situational awareness, situational intelligence and the protection of 
critical  offshore  and  subsea  infrastructures,  thereby  contributing  to  strengthening 
maritime security, safety and defence.  

Ocean observation is also an economic sector in its own, with strong growth potential. It is 
estimated that each euro invested in ocean observing systems generates a return of EUR 5-6 in 
economic and societal benefits.6 UNESCO estimated the public investments in global in situ 
ocean  observation  at  EUR  0.85  –  1.3  billion  per  year,  which  covers  only  60–70%  of  the 
required system7. Other sources estimate annual global spending at EUR 2 billion, of which 
about EUR 500 million in the EU8. At the same time, all US economic activities directly related 
to  ocean  observation  products  and  services,  have  been  estimated  worth  EUR  7  billion,  and 
serving a much larger business ecosystem valued at EUR 35-80 billion9.  

OceanEye aims at: 

(1) strengthening national and European efforts and coordination structures focussed 

on the in situ ocean observations,  

(2) creating an international alliance to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System, 
(3) establishing  a  European  Digital  Ocean  System,  that  integrates  existing  European 
marine knowledge services and is fed by both in situ and satellite observations, with a 
view  to  ensuring  operational  services  while  facilitating  innovation  and  value-added 
services and creating new markets for Europe’s maritime manufacturing base.  

6   https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/ioos_devplan.pdf and 

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2021/07/value-chains-in-public-marine-
data_ec9a528e/d8bbdcfa-en.pdf  
7  
https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/files/2022/02/en-ocean-presskit.pdf  
8   Data collected through the Expert Group on Ocean Observation and from other reports 
9   NOAA, 2021. The Ocean Enterprise 2015 – 2020: A study of U.S. New Blue Economy business activity.  

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The  European  Union  and  its  Member  States  have  invested  significantly  in  ocean 
observation over the past few decades. The EU has progressively assumed a position of global 
leadership in the delivery of integrated ocean data, knowledge and forecasting services and 
possesses a world-leading marine knowledge value chain underpinned by three strategic assets:  

•  Copernicus notably its Marine Service10. 
•  The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)11  
•  WISE-Marine and WISE Freshwater12 

These assets, as well as more specific data and knowledge platforms13, and the forthcoming 
European  Digital  Twin  Ocean14,  empower  the  EU  to  monitor  the  state  of  the  ocean  both 
locally  and  globally.  They  depend  on  continuous,  high-quality,  in  situ  as  well  as  space-
based, and global ocean data streams.  

However,  ocean  observation  in  Europe  and  globally,  is  fragmented  and  lacks  systemic 
operational  commitment  and  efficiency,  facing  extreme  funding  constraints,  that  are 
further  exacerbated  by  geopolitical  changes.  Reliance  on  underfunded  and  increasingly 
fragile observing systems exposes EU and global knowledge assets and services to disruptions, 
data gaps and political leverage, creating strategic dependency risks.  

The  OceanEye  initiative  is  designed  to  support  the  development  and  implementation  of  a 
comprehensive operational ocean observation system, that connects the national, European 
and  international  levels  dynamically  and  structurally  based  on  an  operational  system  that 
consists of observations from space (Copernicus, European Space Agency and national space 
agencies) and in situ (mainly from national but also from European infrastructures); as well as 
digital systems: national and European data systems (national oceanographic data centres, 
EMODnet),  processing  and  modelling  infrastructures  (e.g.  Copernicus  Marine  Service, 
European Digital Twin Ocean, EC Blue2 modelling framework) and delivering operational 
services.  

Following the model of operational meteorological monitoring and forecasting, these elements  
will create a system in which countries structure and coordinate their contribution of in situ 
ocean  observations  and,  in  return,  optimise  their  benefits  from  the  highest-quality  ocean 
monitoring, forecasting and sector-specific services at local, regional and global scale. 

The OceanEye initiative is underpinned by four strategic pillars: 

•  Pillar I, focuses on enhancing in situ ocean observation, better data sharing and use 
by establishing an EU governance framework, that is appropriately linked to the 
other components of the European Ocean Observing System. 

10   https://marine.copernicus.eu/ 
11   https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu 
12   https://water.europa.eu 
13   such as those for maritime transport and fisheries of the EMSA, EFCA and the JRC 
14   https://www.edito.eu/european-digital-twin-ocean-about/ 

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•  Pillar  II  focuses  on  the  international  dimension,  particularly  by  launching  an 

international alliance to support the Global Ocean Observing System15. 

•  Pillar  III  focuses  on  developing  innovative  markets  and  sectors  related  to  ocean 

observations, including through the European Digital Twin Ocean. 

•  Pillar  IV  focuses  on  fostering  engagement,  understanding,  trust,  and  an  emotional 
connection  to  the  ocean  through  strategic  partnerships,  outreach,  education  and 
skills, culture and societal ownership. 

Pillar I: EU governance – supporting the European 
Ocean Observing System 
While current and planned space observation infrastructures are well organised (through the 
cooperation between the EU, the European Space Agency, the European Organisation for the 
Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, national and international space agencies), additional 
efforts  are  required  to  better  organise  the  various  in  situ  observation  infrastructures  and 
programmes  more  efficiently.  This  includes  improving  the  integration  of  EU  marine 
knowledge assets with national assets, which would also strengthen the corresponding digital 
systems.  

Similarly, digital infrastructures, notably AI, high performance computing and cloud systems, 
are  fundamental  enablers  for  ocean  observations  and  have  transformed  their  potential. 
Nevertheless,  today,  European  and  national  entities  rely  on  research-based  infrastructures 
which are not designed to offer operational, secure and continuous services.  

The  lack  of  coordination  and  governance,  at  both  national  and  European  levels,  leads  to 
inefficiencies, financial costs, and critical gaps in monitoring, limiting the benefits that Member 
States receive from their investments. 

1.1 Establishing a European governance framework for Ocean 
Observation  
The  Commission  proposes  establishing  a  governance  structure  for  European  ocean 
observation.It will be established in the Ocean Act (scheduled by end 2026) and build on 
existing structures such as the European Ocean Board16. The Ocean Pact dashboard to be 
launched at the end of 2026 will also help monitor progress. 

The goal of this Ocean Observation governance framework is to consolidate the entire marine 
knowledge  value  chain  by  providing  a  structured  interface  between  observation  needs  and 
knowledge providers across sectors and policies. It will support the definition and agreement 
of  the  system’s  operational  requirements,  while  improving  its  overall  organisation  and 
coordination. To achieve this, it will bring together all relevant actors, in a structured way: 

15   The text uses the term global ocean observing system in full to refer to the global system for sustained 

ocean observations and the acronym GOOS to refer to the programme led by UNESCO’s 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (https://goosocean.org/who-we-are/). 

16   The high-level expert group supporting the implementation of the European Ocean Pact 

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First the EU and  Member States supported by technical bodies at national and European level 
to focus on adopting common standards and operational in situ measurements. Second, it will 
interface  with  other  European  and  national  level  actors  responsible  for  other  components. 
Third, it will reach out to users, such as the research community, as well as other stakeholders 
and  users  (such  as  the  maritime  and  offshore  energy  sectors,  cultural  actors,  education 
professional,  etc.).  Finally,  it  will  establish  a  relevant  interface  and  common  European  and 
national positions towards the international communities expressed through a dialogue with 
EuroGOOS17.  

Lines of work could include: 

• 

joint  priority  setting,  identification  of  areas  of  strategic  interest  for  technological 
development,  agreements  on  roadmaps  and  technical  specifications  on  the  basis  of 
common needs;  

•  coordination  of  European  research  infrastructures.  For  instance,  this  could  include 
research  vessels  (building  on  the  experience  of  EuroFleets18),  as  well  as  potential 
collaboration with the industry (e.g.  through multi sensor fishing vessels) to address 
current gaps in marine data collection; 

•  system design, metrology, work on common standards (e.g. standards on observation 
and measurement methods, data and meta-data, data processing, digital infrastructures, 
and reporting requirements, etc.), planning strategies and tools; 
facilitation of multiannual co-funding mechanisms, synergies between programmes and 
funds;  

• 

•  coordinated action in the global landscape (within global bodies such as the IOC, the 

World Meteorological Organisation or regional sea conventions);  

•  data policies, to be further detailed as part of the forthcoming proposal on an Ocean 
Act, taking into account several critical elements such as national, EU and international 
commitments,  Member  States’  competences,  European  and  national  autonomy, 
existing international agreements, security-related constraints, protection of sensitive 
and security information related to the economic activities and resource management 
activities, and other relevant legal and operational considerations. Given the sensitive 
nature  of  ocean  observation  in  the  context  of  maritime  security,  it  is  essential  to 
establish a balanced and mutually agreed data sharing approach among relevant parties 
where necessary 

•  opportunities for improved data sharing as access to high-quality in situ data is key to 
the European Digital Ocean System and for the development of European Digital Twin 
Ocean applications, especially those of a local and sectoral nature. 

Member  States  are  encouraged  to  set  up  a  national  coordination  structure,  aimed  at 
increasing  the  efficiency  and  effectiveness  of  national  and  European  ocean  observation 
activities.  

17   https://eurogoos.eu/ 
18   The aim of Eurofleets, established with the help of successive European Research projects, is to strengthen 
cooperation and coordination between the European oceanographic fleets in order to optimize and facilitate 
the deployment of these national marine facilities, see https://www.eurofleets.eu/  

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1.2. Establishing a European Digital Ocean System 

The integration of Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet into a European digital ocean 
system, and with the appropriate interfaces with WISE-Marine, WISE freshwater  and other 
assets,  will  further  unlock  their  potential,  reduce  fragmentation  and  ensure  a  seamless 
operational flow of information from observation to knowledge services. This simplification, 
supported  by  an  industrial-scale  operation,  will  generate  resource  and  productivity  gains, 
creating a single, reliable, entry point for stakeholders while maximising the value and impact 
of EU marine knowledge assets.  

By improving the collection, access, sharing, and interoperability of ocean data, the system will 
foster  innovation  across  the  blue  economy,  strengthen  the  competitiveness  of  European 
industries and service providers. It will accelerate the development of new digital applications, 
forecasting capabilities, and data-driven solutions for public and private users alike, supporting 
the develoment of a data-driven market.  

This digital infrastructure will make it possible to monitor the deployment of ocean observation 
infrastructure  which  will  help  improve  coherence  and  coordination  among  the  different 
contributors at European and global level. 

This  emerging  operational  digital  system  could  benefit  from  an  integrated  governance  with 
Copernicus, currently including the Copernicus Configuration Committee and the Copernicus 
User Forum. In the broad perspective of an effective support to environmental, blue economy 
and security uses, the integrated governance will allow to build dynamic interactions with all 
Copernicus  services,  including  the  climate,  emergency,  security  and  maritime  surveillance 
services and further to the proposed Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS)19.  

Defence and security users have specific operational and security needs. Accordingly, there 
may be a need for the establishment of dedicated thematic assembly centres /shields for 
dedicated and secure data and information production and distribution contributing as needed 
to  national  and  European  defence  flagships  and  other  structures  (e.g.  European  Defence 
Projects of Common Interest or SEAs). 

Following the model of operational meteorological monitoring and forecasting, this European 
digital ocean system will provide reliable and operational services to users across a wide range 
of  sectors  and  applications.  This  integration  is  a  prerequisite  for  successfully  making  the 
European Digital Twin Ocean operational by 2030 and functioning as a comprehensive and 
trusted  public  service  for  ocean  knowledge,  forecasting,  and  decision-making,  including  a 
source-to-sea approach to reflect the priorities of the Water Resilience Strategy. 

Mercator  Ocean  International  is  currently  entrusted  by  the  European  Commission  with  the 
implementation  of the Copernicus Marine Service and is one of the main developers of the 
European  Digital  Twin  Ocean.  Its  ongoing  transformation  into  an  intergovernmental 
organisation will provide the long-term stability and shared ownership required by its strategic 
role and will help ensuring effective connection of the European digital ocean system with, and 
reliance  on,  national  digital  infrastructures  and  systems.  Through  its  involvement  in 
Copernicus, Mercator Ocean International will also contribute to Ocean Eye.  

19   https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/developing-reconnaissance-capabilities-eu-level-2024-01-23_en 

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Therefore,  the  Commission  proposes  to  bring  together  existing  European  marine 
knowledge management assets in a European digital ocean system, through the extension 
of the scope of the Copernicus Marine Service.  

Pillar II: The international dimension 

2.1 An international alliance for the global ocean observing system  
GOOS (Global Ocean Obsesrvation System) coordinates a global system of sustained in situ 
ocean  observations,  based  on  Essential  Ocean  Variables  (EOVs)  across  physics, 
biogeochemistry,  biology  and  ecosystems.  Through  a  globally  integrated  infrastructure  of 
ocean observing networks and national and regional observing initiatives, it provides the basis 
delivering essential ocean information that supports ecosystem-based management, economies, 
and communities worldwide. 

Despite  the  essential  role  of  in  situ  ocean  observation,  the  system  remains  vulnerable  to 
financial  and  geopolitical  disruptions.  It  still  depends  heavily  on  a  small  number  of  major 
contributors and lacks sufficient back up capacity to ensure long-term stability.20  

Key  components,  such  as  Argo  and  tropical  moorings21,  are  at  risk  of  degradation,  with 
projections indicating a 35% loss of Argo capacity by 2030 if corrective action is not taken. 
Significant gaps persist in the Southern Hemisphere, the Arctic, deep-sea regions and coastal 
zones. 

The EU is highly dependent on the global ocean observing system. Flagship services such as 
those offered by Copernicus (mainly Marine, Maritime Surveillance and Climate services) and 
the European Digital  Twin  Ocean require continuous, high-quality  global ocean data which 
have a critical impact on the performance monitoring and forecasting services. Large parts of 
these global ocean data lie beyond direct EU control.  

To  address  these  challenges,  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  should  strengthen  their  ocean 
diplomacy,  outreach  and  strategic  partnerships  with  like-minded  third  countries  on  ocean 
observing  data,  as  well  as  increase  and  better  coordinate  their  support  for  the  global  ocean 
observing  system.  They  should  assume  a  stronger  global  leadership  role  and  call  on 
international partners to join the EU in increasing their contributions and sharing responsibility 
for sustaining the global ocean observing system. In return, countries would benefit from more 
observations collected by their peers, generating high-quality marine knowledge.  

Therefore, the Commission proposes to:  

• 

launch an International Alliance to support the global ocean observing system. 

The objectives of the International Alliance will be to: 
-  broaden the support for the global ocean observing system, including through financial 

or in-kind contributions; 

20   See status Report 2025, available at https://www.ocean-ops.org/goosreport/goosreport2025.pdf  
21   Argo floats are autonomous drifting instruments that typically measure temperature and salinity throughout 
the water column, surfacing periodically to transmit data via satellite. Moorings are fixed ocean observing 
systems anchored in place that continuously measure ocean and atmospheric conditions such as 
temperature, winds, and currents. 

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- 

- 

- 

- 

improve  the  governance  approach  of  the  global  ocean  observing  system  to  make  it 
more structured, effective, and equitably funded, while securing the continuous data 
collection and access; 
sustain  existing  ocean  observing  infrastructure  (gliders,  buoys,  observatories,  Argo 
floats, etc.); 
close critical in situ observation gaps, to complete global networks, expand them into 
coastal domains and address blind spots; 
support international and multilateral commitments, including the implementation of 
Sustainable  Development  Goal  14  and  the  BBNJ  (Biodiversity  Beyond  National 
Jurisdictions) Agreement22, by enabling evidence-based decision-making. 

Members of the international alliance for the global ocean observing system may include 
countries,  philanthropic  organisations  and  private  partners.  They  should  make 
commitments  in  line  with  their  respective  capacities.  These  commitments  may  include 
mobilising  financial  resources,  providing  access  to  observation  capacities  (such  as 
observation vessels, sensors, drones and submarine cables), investing in and/or providing 
access to observation and digital infrastructures, dedicating human and technical capacity 
to the IOC or GOOS, and making available relevant data. Participation in the International 
Alliance will ensure better coordination of global ocean observation efforts thus rendering 
the use of infrastructure and assets more effective.  

•  establish a strategic partnership with the IOC 

the 

intergovernmental  body 

As 
the  International 
Oceanographic  Data  and  Information  Exchange,  the  IOC  provides  the  institutional 
framework within which strategic priorities, standards and implementation arrangements 
are shaped. 

that  coordinates  GOOS  and 

Through the OceanEye structured governance at European level, the EU will be able to 
establish  common  European  positions  on  important  issues  such  as  priority  setting,  gap 
identification, standards, and the further development of the system. 

Therefore, the Commission will propose a Memorandum of Understanding between the 
EU and the IOC. that will ensure closer alignment between GOOS, the proposed European 
governance and the international alliance.  

•  as a starting point, contribute to the Alliance in two ways: 

Through the EMODnet Global Data service,23 by extending the mandate of EMODnet to 
actively contribute to more resilient international marine in situ data flows;  

Through a dedicated EUR 50 million action under the current Horizon Europe 
Programme to strengthen the global ocean in situ observing system. 

22   https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en  
23   EUR 12 million public procurement. https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-

2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-
environment_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf 

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The Commission will explore, together with Member States, how the EU can further support 
global  ocean  observation  through  improved  coordination  and  greater  long-term  financial 
predictability. 

2.2 Supporting global capacity development 
A robust global ocean observing system is vital for the countries and regions most vulnerable 
to  climate  and  oceanic  changes,  notably  small  island  developing  states  (SIDS)  and  least 
developed countries (LDCs) which are at the forefront of risks related to climate change and 
biodiversity loss, and which need sustainable ocean economies the most.  

The participation  of SIDS and LDCs in  the International  Alliance  will ensure that they can 
meaningfully  shape the  design  and priorities of the global ocean observing system,  without 
making  their  engagement  contingent  upon  their  domestic  capacity  to  finance  and  operate 
observing infrastructures. 

In addition, the EU will consider a range of instruments (including financial instruments) that 
could be mobilised by the EU and other actors to further support global ocean observing, in 
line with the Global Gateway strategy and the Pact for the Mediterranean, where relevant, to:  

•  support efforts of SIDS and LDCs in developing their own observing capacities, 
for instance by building on EU technologies, and contributing to the global ocean 
observing system; 

•  co-develop digital tools with and for states and regions with limited capacities, 
ensuring they have access to tailored support and capacity-building initiatives.  

Pillar III: The operational and industrial dimension 

3.1 Operationalising the digital infrastructure  

The  European  Digital  Twin  Ocean  aims  to  make  ocean  knowledge  readily  available  to  the 
public,  entrepreneurs,  scientists,  and  policymakers.  Subject  to  the  data  policy  to  be  further 
defined in the Ocean Act, it is conceived as a public good and therefore proposed to be owned 
by  the  European  Union.  Through  its  core  infrastructure,  EDITO24,  it  provides  a  virtual 
representation  of  the  ocean,  enabling  seamless  access  to  integrated  and  actionable  marine 
information.  

The  European  Digital  Twin  Ocean  needs  to  harness  unprecedented  operational  digital 
capacities,  including  high-performance  computing,  artificial  intelligence  and  advanced 
cloud infrastructures, to process and analyse vast volumes of ocean data and run complex, 
scalable simulations across all domains, from physics processes to socio-ecological systems. It 
integrates  historical  and  real-time  data  from  multiple  sources,  including  satellites,  sensors, 
numerical  models  and  even  personal  devices  like  smartphone  applications.  Moving  well 
beyond  monitoring,  it  allows  users  to  explore  “what-if”  scenarios,  simulating  the  potential 
impacts  of  different  policy  options,  climate  warming  scenarios/trajectories  or  economic 
activities before decisions are taken. However, dedicated digital infrastructures providing the 

24   https://www.edito.eu/  

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computing capabilities that meet the operational requirements of the ocean digital services are 
currently lacking.  

Therefore, the Commission proposes to:  

• 

support the further development of the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) so 
that it is fully operational at the latest by 2030, as a public service for the Europeans 
and  as  an  offering  for  the  rest  of  the  world,  possibly  through  integrating  it  into  the 
Copernicus Marine Service and ensuring interoperability and synergy with Destination 
Earth, HPC, cloud and AI infrastructures; 

•  develop a joint plan with relevant initiatives (notably Copernicus and  Destination 
Earth) for acquiring appropriate high performance computing capabilities, tailored to 
address their operational requirements and contribute to the Digital Ocean System and 
the broader ecosystem of Earth-system modelling; 

•  provide  support  for  research  and  innovation for  developing  targeted  European 
DTO applications for policy for both the public and private sectors, also by building 
on existing DTO components, such as the EC Blue2 modelling framework applications; 

•  develop the marine thematic node of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)25, 
as  a  component  of  EDITO,  ensuring  the  interoperability  of  ocean  data  with  other 
thematic EOSC nodes;  

•  by  2030,  fully  operationalise  the  source-to-sea  digital  continuum  that  underpins 
both  the  Ocean  Pact  and  Water  Resilience  Strategy,  by  developing  coupled  models 
among  Copernicus,  the  European  Digital  Twin  Ocean  and  Destination  Earth  and  by 
establishing standardised open-source connectors to bridge the gap with local inland 
waters digital systems;  

• 

facilitate  the  development  of  downstream  services  for  the  public  and  local 
stakeholders, particularly by supporting demonstrators, prototypes, common technical 
specifications and training in order to support resilience strategies, inform biodiversity 
conservation plans, and facilitate the contributions of locally generated data, including 
through citizen science; 

•  remain  mindful  of  the  needs  of  the  EU’s  outermost  regions  and  islands,  low-
income countries and small island developing states, and explore the development 
of  tailored  services,  targeted  training,  and  support  for  access  to  and  use  EU 
infrastructures for the development of their own capacities. 

3.2 Strengthening Europe’s ocean observation innovation and 
industrial base  
Knowledge is a key asset. In a context of growing climate risks, maritime interdependence 
and geopolitical competition, the ability to explore the ocean has become a strategic asset.  

Although no single authoritative study consolidates all relevant activities under a single ocean 
observation  category,  different  studies  indicate  that  the  global  annual  ocean  observation 
market is worth between EUR 10 and 20 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 

25    https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/our-digital-

future/open-science/european-open-science-cloud-eosc_en 

10 

 
 
 
around 5-10%. This serves a much larger business ecosystem worth EUR 40 to 90 billion, in 
which the United States holds the largest share.26,27 

For  the  EU,  becoming  a  global  leader  in  ocean  observation  technologies  is  therefore  a 
fundamental economic and geopolitical choice and a strategic imperative for resilience and 
competitiveness in a rapidly changing geopolitical context. 

Particular attention will be given to deep-tech startups and scale-ups developing breakthrough 
solutions  in  sensors,  autonomous  systems,  value  added  services  based  on  data  and  data 
products, artificial intelligence, and digital twins. In line with its startup and scale-up strategy, 
the  Commission  will  work  towards  supporting  the  transition  from  research  to  market, 
improving access to finance and use public procurement to stimulate demand and accelerate 
deployment, possibly through regulatory sandboxes28. 

Innovation  policy  will  therefore  combine  technology  push  with  demand-driven 
development. Ocean observation technologies must respond to clearly set out industrial, policy 
and regulatory needs, including climate adaptation and mitigation, environmental compliance, 
security  and  defence,  fisheries  and  aquaculture,  biodiversity  monitoring,  marine  protected 
areas,  offshore  infrastructure  protection,  maritime  safety,  transport,  tourism  and  offshore 
energy. Aligning research, regulation and market demand would accelerate deployment and 
help  European  companies  to  capture  emerging  markets  in  cost-effective  and  autonomous 
monitoring, AI-enabled ocean intelligence, and integrated space-ocean systems. 

Dual-use  and  security-by-design  considerations  will  be  integral  to  this  approach.  To 
strengthen  maritime  domain  awareness,  particularly  in  maritime  security,  military  mobility, 
and  the  climate  and  defence  nexus  -  while  protecting  critical  underwater  infrastructure  and 
developing secure data architectures, it is necessary to have resilient and trusted technologies. 
By embedding cybersecurity, compliance and interoperability into system design, the EU can 
position  itself  as  a  global  provider  of  secure  and  responsible  ocean  intelligence  solutions 
addressing among others needs from Security and Defence Partnerships. 

As  malicious  actors  increasingly  exploit  grey-zone  tactics,  ranging  from  cyberattacks  and 
sabotage  to  foreign  information  manipulation  and  interference,  including  disinformation, 
robust maritime observation capabilities - from space to the seabed - are essential for detecting, 
deterring, and mitigating risks before they escalate into systemic disruptions. By improving 
real-time monitoring and information-sharing mechanisms, the EU can strengthen its strategic 
autonomy  while  countering  hybrid  interference  that  seeks  to  exploit  vulnerabilities  in  the 
maritime domain and enhancing resilience against kinetic and non-kinetic threats. 

26   2021 study “Uptake of new technology for ocean observation”, Service Contract 

EASME/EMFF/2020/3.1.16/SI2.833154-SC08. Updated and improved figures will emerge from the 
ongoing “Study on the competitiveness of EU sustainable blue economy sectors: focus on ocean 
observation technologies” Service Contract CINEA/EMFAF/2025/3.5/Lot2/02/SC10/4500128122 
implementing framework contract No CINEA/2021/OP/0011 – LOT 2. 

27   The Ocean Enterprise 2015-2020: A study of U.S. New Blue Economy business activity  
28   For instance, by clarifying and enabling low-risk ocean observing activities to the EEZs, reducing 

administrative barriers, in full respect of sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal States under United 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Marine Scientific Research regime) 

11 

 
 
 
The new European Competitiveness Fund, working in synergy with the next Horizon Europe 
programme,  will  provide  seamless  support  to  European  innovators,  from  research  and 
innovation to deployment also for technologies relevant to ocean observation, in line with the 
proposed  “Moonshot”  ambition.  Synergies  and  complementarities  of  measures  under  the 
relevant EU spending programmes for ocean observation policy will be pursued in line with 
their respective policy objectives and governance. 

Therefore, the Commission proposes:  

•  promoting a coherent innovation-to-investment journey in line with the proposed 

‘moonshot’ ambition; 

• 

setting out priorities for ocean observation in its research and innovation strategy 
for  Ocean  and  Water  and  strengthen  the  investment  journey,  from  fundamental 
research to innovation and scaling up;  

•  using EC Strategic Foresight29 to support the development of a robust and resilient 

system; 

• 

committing EUR 30 million for a European Innovation Council thematic challenge 
on ocean observation technologies, under the Horizon Europe work programme for 
2027, to prepare key innovation pathways to leverage investment in view of OceanEye. 

Pillar IV: Strategic partnerships, education and skills, 
culture and societal ownership 

4.1 Deepening collaboration with private, national and international 
initiatives 
Beyond  the  international  alliance,  the  OceanEye  initiative  will  proactively  build  strategic 
partnerships with private actors, national programmes and international initiatives to strengthen 
the coherence and global impact of ocean observation.; including in the context of Security and 
Defence Partnerships that have a maritime security component, or in key regions such as the 
Arctic. 

By  aligning  investments  and  priorities,  the  initiative  will  leverage  national  capacities  and 
research  infrastructures  while  fostering  engagement  with  industry.  One  notable  example  is 
Mission Neptune, an international initiative; recently launched by the French government, to 
accelerate deep-ocean exploration.  

Furthermore, the recently launched Knowledge and Innovation Community on Water30 (EIT 
Water)  under  the  European  Institute  of  Innovation  and  Technology  is  building  a  strong 
European innovation ecosystem around water and ocean innovation. It will contribute to the 
objectives  of  the  initiative  by  bringing  together  top  businesses,  research  centres,  and 

29   https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/strategic-foresight-eu_en 
30   Focusing on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems 

12 

 
 
 
universities  to  provide  entrepreneurial  education,  innovation-driven  research  and  business 
support activities. 

Existing philanthropic activities promoting ocean protection and/or conservation, for example 
through marine protected areas, could be strengthened with an observation and/or exploration 
component to make them more effective and strategic. The OceanEye initiative will further 
mobilise  philanthropists,  promote  social  engagement  and  enhance  international  visibility, 
particularly through common branding, recognising that sustained ocean observation requires 
broad societal support as well as public investment. To increase visibility of OceanEye, a label 
for  all  infrastructure  contributing  to  the  initiative  will  be  developed.Through  co-investment 
mechanisms  and  coordinated  programming,  the  OceanEye  initiative  will  create  a  trusted 
ecosystem  in  which  public  and  private  actors  will  work  together  to  deliver  sustained 
observations, innovation and operational services. 

4.2 Connecting Europeans to the ocean: ocean observation as a 
pathway to connecting people and inspiring civic engagement and 
action 
When  translated  into  meaningful  action,  ocean  observation  can  reshape  how  Europeans 
understand, value and relate to the ocean. To foster collective societal ownership, the OceanEye 
initiative  will  develop  a  strong  educational,  cultural  and  outreach  dimension,  that  bridges 
science,  entrepreneurship,  art,  education  and  society.  The  Commission  will  explore  –  for 
example under the New European Bauhaus  - the development of lines of action linking art, 
culture and ocean science in order to bring ocean observation out of offshore laboratories or 
digital  dashboards  and  bring  it  into  public  spaces,  ports,  museums  and  coastal  cities  across 
Europe. The aim will be not only to communicate science, but also to cultivate imagination, 
empathy and shared stewardship. 

Ocean observation is also a source of high-quality employment and innovation. By showcasing 
career  pathways  and  connecting  education  with  industry,  the  Commission  will  support  the 
development of a skilled workforce capable of sustaining Europe’s leadership in the blue and 
digital economies, including through a blue generational renewal strategy in 2027. Emphasis 
will be placed on interdisciplinary skills that bridge science, digital technologies, engineering 
and communication. 

The OceanEye initiative will further strengthen ocean literacy by leveraging the EU4Ocean 
coalition31, which has enhanced Europeans’ knowledge of our ocean and waters since 2020, 
and other scientific and educational networks such as the Network of European Blue Schools, 
the Youth4Ocean Forum, the European Atlas of the Seas, the Education for Climate Coalition, 
and the eTwinning network on the European School Education Platform. 

Therefore, the Commission proposes:  

• 

launching the New European Bauhaus  Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities 
Lab, seeking to bridge ocean observation with art, design and civic engagement and 
bringing  ocean  knowledge  closer  to  society.  This  could  take  the  form  of  travelling 

31   https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/ocean-literacy-and-blue-skills/ocean-literacy/eu4ocean-

coalition_en 

13 

 
 
 
installations,  public  events  or  collaborations  with  museums,  artists,  research 
institutions, cultural networks and civil society, translating ocean data into accessible 
and meaningful experiences and fostering a stronger bond between Europeans and the 
sea and transforming ocean observation into a civic and cultural tool;  

•  bringing  ocean  observation  in  education,  in  particular,  to  children  and  young 
people through EU4Ocean by making ocean observation the overarching theme of 
EU4Ocean’s activities in 2027 and thereby supporting the objectives of the OceanEye 
initiative. Through an Ocean Observation Week in schools, European Blue Schools 
and  youth  projects,  awareness  campaigns,  a  thematic  working  group  and  dedicated 
#MakeEUBlue awards, EU4Ocean will support and recognise initiatives that combine 
ocean  data  with  education  and  public  engagement.  In  collaboration  with  UNESCO, 
EU4Ocean will host a summer school where young people from Europe and beyond 
can learn about and engage directly with ocean observation; 

•  promoting  knowledge-based  jobs  and  skills  linked  to  ocean  technologies,  data 
science, maritime operations and environmental monitoring, with particular focus on 
supporting  early-career  ocean  professionals  including  though  maritime  vocational 
education.  These  efforts  will  be  complemented  by  EU4Ocean  mentoring  and 
traineeship  schemes  for  young  people  interested  in  ocean-related  careers,  as  well  as 
dedicated  workshops  at  key  European  flagship  events  such  as  the  European  Youth 
Week, European Ocean Days and European Maritime Day.  
launching annual communication campaigns in collaboration with the EU 
research vessels fleet, to open research vessels to the public in European ports.  

• 

V. Access to finance and investment  
The annual financing needed to achieve the level of ambition for the OceanEye initiative, has 
been estimated at three to four times the current level of investment. Significant investment 
needs  have  been  identified  to  sustain  and  improve  the  in  situ  ocean  observation  network, 
develop digital tools for knowledge integration and support continued research investments to 
further develop services. 

Meeting these investment needs requires the coordinated use of current and future EU funding, 
national  measures,  and  actions  to  attract  private  capital  across  the  entire  innovation  to 
investment  journey.  Dedicated  advisory,  matchmaking  and  project  pipeline  tools,  such  as 
BlueInvest32 and the EIB Advisory under the InvestEU Advisory Hub33, can facilitate access 
to resources and create favourable conditions for financing projects.  

However, key gaps remain:  

• 

In situ observation infrastructures should be made operational, shared and compliant 
with quality standards and common technical specifications. There is also a need for 
dedicated operational digital infrastructures. 

•  Ocean  observation  systems  are  characterised  by  short-term,  research  project-based 
funding, while the substantial investments required for technological capacity building, 
are infrequent and lack well-defined time horizons. Long-term operational funding is 

32   https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/investments/blueinvest_en 
33   https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme/investeu-advisory-hub_en 

14 

 
 
 
required  to  ensure  the  continuous  operation  of  the  systems  and  to  strengthening  the 
observation networks (e.g. deep-sea moorings and biological monitoring).  

•  EU  funding  is  fragmented  with  distinct  rules  and  timelines,  leading  to  limited 
predictability  and  insufficient  strategic  coherence.  The  proposal  for  the  next 
multiannual financial framework aims at addressing such fragmentation. 

•  Private-sector  engagement  is  limited,  particularly  in  high-capital-expenditure  areas 
such as autonomous underwater vehicles and satellite constellations, and insufficient 
support for data standardisation and interoperability, which hinders the ambition of the 
European Digital Twin Ocean. 

Starting  in  2026  and  2027,  the  Commission  will  mobilise  available  resources  and  existing 
instruments in support of the OceanEye initiative. 

To support the innovation-to-investment journey, the Commission will explore how its full 
range of instruments can best work together in synergy and complementarity. Horizon 
Europe will aim to continue to support breakthrough research and demonstration and, under 
the European Innovation Council, will back high-risk, high-impact innovators.  

The next multiannual financial framework could help support the objectives of the OceanEye 
initiative,  including  through  the  proposed  European  Competitiveness  Fund  (ECF).  National 
and Regional Partnership Plans could support fisheries, aquaculture, marine activities and the 
European Ocean Pact.  

The  Commission  calls  on  the  Member  States  to  increase  their  support  for  ocean 
observation  and  align  national  budgets  with  EU  priorities,  ensuring  stable  funding  for 
improved long-term observation series. 

Member States are also encouraged to: 

•  expand  national  ocean  observation  programmes,  align  national  marine  research 
budgets with EU priorities and ensure stable funding for long-term observation series; 
•  promote public procurement of ocean  observation services, for example through 
pre-commercial procurement to stimulate innovation in real-time marine data delivery 
for public agencies; 
foster  industry-academia  partnerships  for  example  by  encouraging  national 
innovation agencies to support ocean tech incubators and living labs, including testing 
autonomous gliders in real-world conditions.  

• 

Conclusions 
Ocean  observation  and  the  marine  knowledge  value  chain  are  critical  for  sustainability, 
competitiveness,  resilience,  strategic  autonomy  and  security.  Yet,  in  Europe  and  globally, 
ocean observation is fragmented, faces funding constraints and data gaps, and lacks efficiency 
and  operational  commitment.  These  challenges  are  exacerbated  by  a  shifting  geopolitical 
context, creating strategic dependency risks. 

The OceanEye initiative is a strategic EU endeavour to deliver a comprehensive operational 
European ocean observing system.  

15 

 
 
By further developing and mobilising the full range of partnerships, infrastructure and marine 
knowledge assets at its disposal, the EU can secure its strategic autonomy in ocean observation, 
infrastructure, data and information services while also recognising its dual use, and position 
itself as a reliable global partner and a value-driven leader in international cooperation. 

The  upcoming  legislative  proposal  for  an  Ocean  Act  will  develop  a  robust,  integrated,  and 
multidisciplinary  European  marine  knowledge  value  chain  —  turning  data  into  action,  and 
science  into  solutions  for  all.  This  will  strengthen  the  competitiveness  of  the  European 
industrial ecosystem for ocean observation technologies and user-centred services. 

The Commission will work with the other EU institutions, Member States, stakeholders, and 
international partners to deliver this operational system, partnerships and governance that lie 
at the heart of the OceanEye initiative.  

16