Atlantic Cooperation in R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: High-Level Ministerial and Stakeholder Conference

Within the scope of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, the Ministry of the Sea, and the Regional Government of the Azores, with the support of the European Commission, will organize the event Atlantic Cooperation in Research and Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean: High-Level Ministerial and Stakeholder Conference on June 3 and 4, 2021, in Ponta Delgada.

With the aim of promoting cooperation in R&I across and along the Atlantic Ocean, from "Pole to Pole," and as a step forward in the work carried out by the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance,  Ministers, high-level representatives, researchers, young people, entrepreneurs, academics, civil society, and other stakeholders will gather for two days in a dialogue that will contribute to strengthening the scientific diplomacy efforts initiated in 2011 at the European level, with the launch of the Atlantic strategy and its first action plan (2013) and the signing of the Galway declarations. Galway and Belém (in 2013 and 2017, respectively).

It will be an opportunity to discuss the progress of current marine R&I cooperation across the Atlantic, strengthen the vision of "Connect-Act-Cooperate for the Atlantic Ocean," launch a pan-Atlantic Pledging platform as a new approach to existing cooperation, and provide solutions to accelerate the green and digital transitions for a greener, fairer, and more resilient society. The debate on new ocean observation and ecosystem-based management methodologies linked to digitization processes represents an important and innovative step in integrating the Ocean-Space-Climate-Food Nexus for ocean sustainability.

The ministerial dimension of the conference, combined with the dynamic participation of stakeholders and parallel events, will help to leverage Atlantic R&I cooperation through two important outcomes: the Declaration of the Conference of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU and the Atlantic Pledging Platform, with a view to strengthening and contributing to the European Green Deal , to the Horizon Europe Mission Starfish 2030: Restoring our Oceans and Water, as well as the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

We hope to see you there on June 3–4, 2021. Stay tuned for more information at www.allatlantic2021.eu.