The oceans have always played an important role worldwide, both in terms of their influence on the climate and their contribution to living conditions on Earth, as they are home to countless species that directly contribute to human survival, supporting global economic trade, etc. Recently, oceans have become a major opportunity to support future challenges driven by global economic growth and increased resources demand. This will change the landscape of the marine and maritime sectors in the upcoming decades as far as established and emerging companies are concerned.
The challenge of boosting the long-term development prospects of emerging ocean sectors and their contribution to economic growth and employability, while managing the oceans, in a responsible and sustainable approach – can only be achieved through the management of different domains (as indicated in the OECD report “The Ocean Economy in 2030”, namely:
– foster greater international co-operation in maritime science and technology as a means to stimulate innovation and strengthen the sustainable development of the ocean economy.
– strengthen integrated ocean management.
Scientific and technological advances will play a key role in the future of the oceans, addressing environmental challenges and the development of economic activities, making what initially seems incompatible possible, thus achieving both preserved and abundant oceans.
With the increasing awareness of the oceans’ role, several initiatives are taking place worldwide: both from an economic/political point of view, and from a technological/scientific outlook. One of the major initiatives is the recent creation of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (known as the Ocean Panel). The Ocean Panel was created by 14 countries – representing 40% of the world’s coastline (including Portugal and Norway) – committed to sustainably manage 100% of the ocean area under national jurisdiction by 2025, guided by Sustainable Ocean Plans, while boosting their economies. In addition, and in recent years, there have been several initiatives (many still in the planning phase) to foster the creation of specific centres of excellence aimed at harnessing the potential of synergies between technological innovations in maritime industries, often in liaison with maritime clusters. Similar initiatives include, for instance, the Ocean Space Centre (Norway) and the Ocean Technology Alliance (Canada).
The oceans are a strategic field in the Portuguese economic roadmap, clearly established by the National Ocean Strategy 2021-2030, but also through the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (Portugal and the Northern region) – with concrete importance in terms of the PRR and one of the strategic components (C10 – Sea). Portugal is an ocean-centred country, with a coastline of approximately 2,500 km, and one of the largest exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the world, extending over more than 1.7 millionkm2 – including a great diversity of ecosystems and resources. The Portuguese “maritime triangle” (mainland, Madeira and the Azores) constitutes 48% of all marine waters, connected to the European continent, under the jurisdiction of the EU Member States. The EEZ is joined by the Portuguese continental shelf, which extends beyond 200 nautical miles. The delimitation process is ongoing with the United Nations, with the potential to increase the area covered by maritime areas under national sovereignty or jurisdiction to 4,100,000km2, thus extending sovereign rights, beyond the EEZ, for the purposes of conservation, management and exploitation of natural resources located in the marine soil and subsoil.
The country’s geographical location makes Portugal one of the key countries to develop and operate offshore renewable energy systems in the North Atlantic, for the benefit of the EU and on a global scale. Portugal is, in fact, Europe’s gateway to the Atlantic Ocean, and the increasing ocean-related economic activities is the most likely development of a country with a vast coastline and an ancestral maritime culture.
The creation of a Centre of Excellence in Ocean Engineering – INESCTEC.OCEAN – stems precisely from this context and the potential of ocean exploration. INESC TEC has proven to hold several key competencies for the development of maritime technology: sensing, communications, underwater robotics, energy or data science. Said competencies have – to date – been developed in different domains (not exclusively dedicated to the oceans), depending on the fundraising. The creation of INESCTEC.OCEAN will allow ocean-related development, to leverage skills in this area – which brings additional challenges due to adverse conditions and a hostile operating environment.
INESCTEC.OCEAN will also feature other dimensions besides the development of scientific and technological skills. It will foster a closer relationship with academia, enabling advanced training in ocean engineering fields and establishing strategic cooperation endeavours with the national and international business ecosystem. Hence, the project will promote the connection between academia/R&D institutions and industry, promoting unique skills that will address the market gaps related to the sector.
This Centre of Excellence will be a key strategic resource in the regional and national R&D+I ecosystem, promoting a new scientific and technological outlook and knowledge-based sustainable innovation approaches to ensure a sustainable exploitation of the oceans. The main goal is to establish strategic partnerships with other infrastructures and initiatives, like the HUB AZUL Leixões, the offshore test centre at Aguçadoura and the TEC4SEA infrastructure – the latter with various tools and mobile systems for deep-sea testing and operation, as well as a research vessel.
INESCTEC.OCEAN provides for the readjustment and adaptation of existing infrastructures and the creation of new spaces for experimentation. Skills development and advanced training of human resources will be synergistic and complementary to current infrastructure actions, promoting the creation of a network of onshore and offshore technological infrastructures to develop and test technologies, fostering science-based innovation.
The funding for the creation of INESCTEC.OCEAN represents a key step to leverage the country’s vast maritime potential and to drive innovation, sustainability and economic growth. By focusing on advanced technological development, strategic collaborations, and fostering a new generation of skilled professionals, this initiative meets the national and global priorities for a sustainable Blue Economy. Through the integration of knowledge, technology and a commitment to the responsible management of the oceans, INESCTEC.OCEAN aims to position Portugal in the leadership of ocean sustainable exploration and innovation, ensuring that they remain a preserved and wealthy resource for generations to come.
By Diana Viegas (INESC TEC) and Eduardo Silva (INESC TEC and IPP-ISEP)
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