UNOC3 Side Event launches strategic partnership for Ocean Research and Capacity Building
A significant step forward in international marine science cooperation was achieved on June 12 as Portuguese-speaking African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) committed to establishing Centers of Excellence in Marine Sciences. The initiative, presented during the official UNOC3 side event “Strengthening Marine Science and Capacity Building through the Establishment of Centers of Excellence in Portuguese-Speaking African SIDS,” was led by Cabo Verde’s Ministry of the Sea and Instituto do Mar (IMar) with support from the AIR Centre.
The comprehensive partnership brings together four island nations—Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste—alongside UNESCO’s SIDS Section and Germany’s GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. The collaboration aims to leverage existing scientific knowledge, regional infrastructure, and international cooperation to address critical oceanic challenges facing these vulnerable island communities.
The session gathered distinguished participation from key government officials and scientific leaders, underscoring the initiative’s strategic importance. Ministers from three African nations participated: H.E. Jorge Santos, Minister of Sea of Cabo Verde; H.E. Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth, Sustainable Tourism of São Tomé and Príncipe; and H.E. Viriato Soares Cassamá, Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action of Guinea-Bissau.
International organizations were represented by Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission (IOC) and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Professor Dr. Katja Matthes, Director of GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. The AIR Centre’s Executive Director Miguel Miranda and Yara Rodrigues, Board Member of Instituto do Mar – IMar (Cabo Verde), also participated in the discussions.
The initiative focuses on five strategic areas critical to building sustainable marine science capacity: strategic partnerships for blue science and innovation, youth capacity building with a dedicated focus on gender equality, evidence-based decision making for marine management, enhanced access to marine data and technologies, and fostering community innovation alongside regional cooperation.
The Centers of Excellence are designed to empower these communities with the knowledge, tools, and expertise needed to protect their marine environments while developing sustainable blue economies.
This represents a significant milestone in South-South cooperation, combining regional expertise with international scientific support to address some of the most pressing oceanic challenges facing island nations in the Atlantic and beyond.
Networking Friday with ASTRAL
On May 28th, 2021, 1-3 PM UTC, we will have a very special Networking Friday with ASTRAL (All Atlantic Ocean Sustainable, Profitable and Resilient Aquaculture), which is a HORIZON 2020 project financed under the Blue Growth programme, and is led by the Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE). The project will contribute to the implementation of the Belém Statement to develop a strategic partnership on marine research and it will participate in building the All Atlantic Ocean Community.
All-Atlantic marine research infrastructure network (AA-MARINET)
On June 3rd, 2021, 1-3 PM UTC/AZOST, the partners of the All-Atlantic marine research infrastructure network (AA-MARINET) will organize a side event at the All-Atlantic2021 Conference, which will be another important milestone towards the establishment of an effective process for sharing marine research infrastructures, including the implementation of an All-Atlantic Trans-National Access / infrastructure sharing mechanism. This milestone is of crucial importance to address common challenges related to the area of ocean observation, forecasting and monitoring within the context of the Galway and Belem Statements and the UN Decade of the Ocean Science.
Networking Friday with EU Marine Robots
On May 21st, 2021, 1-3 PM UTC, the Networking Friday with EU Marine Robots will present an overview of the H2020 project EU Marine Robotics Research Infrastructure Network (EUMR), which will be organized around the three types of activities of the project: Transnational Access (TNA). Joint Research (JRA) and Networking Activities (NA).