Blue Growth and Horizon 2020, competitive marine/maritime research funding opportunities in the Horizon 2020 programme (2014-2020)

Abstract

The EU Blue Growth Strategy (2012) is the EU’s long term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. The Blue Growth Strategy recognises that the European seas and oceans are central to the European economy with great potential for innovation, economic growth and job creation. The Blue Growth Strategy is the Integrated Maritime Policy’s contribution to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Implementation of the Blue Growth Strategy, including sea-basin strategies such as the EU Atlantic Action Plan (2014-2020)2, can be supported by EU co-funding programmes such as Structural and Cohesion Funds (e.g. INTERREG, Smart Specialisation, etc.), Horizon 2020, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), etc. Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness. The €80 billion Horizon 2020 Programme (2014-2020) for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe. Horizon 2020 will tackle societal challenges by helping to bridge the gap between research and the market by, for example, helping innovative enterprise to develop their technological breakthroughs into viable products with real commercial potential. This market-driven approach will include creating partnerships with the private sector and Member States to bring together the resources needed.