28 February, 2002
Press release
EurOcean: A New Tool for a Marine European =
Research=20
Area
The Chairman of the Foundation for Science and =
Technology=20
(Portugal) and the Chief Executive Officer of Ifremer (the French =
Research=20
Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea) will officialise on =
February=20
28th 2002 the creation of EurOcean -European Centre for =
Information on Marine Science and Technology in Lisbon.
This launching will take place with the =
participation of=20
Jose Mariano Gago, the Portuguese Minister for Science and =
Technology,=20
Pierre Brochand, Ambassador of France in Portugal, the Executive =
Secretary=20
of UNESCO=92s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and the =
President=20
of the Portuguese Intersectorial Oceanographic Commission.
The creation of EurOcean results from governmental =
initiatives engaged by Portugal with the support of France during =
the=20
International Year of the Ocean in 1998 in order to promote a =
European=20
politic of the Ocean. EurOcean aims to implement the conclusions =
of the=20
report titled "Towards a new marine dimension for Europe through =
research=20
and technological development", published in May 2000 by a group =
of=20
government experts from 15 European countries brought together =
under the=20
invitation of the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology. =
This=20
report was officially presented to the European Research Council, =
the=20
15th of June 2000.
EurOcean=92s main goal is to contribute to the =
development of=20
a Marine European Research Area as =
follows:
![](3D""=20) |
to implement an operational online system to =
identify=20
sources of information and to facilitate access to their =
use. |
to compile information about the new trends =
in marine=20
research and technology in Europe ; to stimulate the =
development of=20
indicators and to contribute to the preparation of analyses =
and=20
syntheses according to the demands of the =
decision-makers.
|
to facilitate co-operation amongst European=20
organisations dealing with marine science and technology, so =
as to=20
promote synergies and to develop actions of common =
interest. |
The creation of an Internet portal for marine =
science and=20
technology is one of EurOcean=92s first projects already engaged. =
This=20
portal is attempting to network many existing sites covering the =
various=20
sectors of marine research -fisheries, environment, industry,=20
transportation, science, etc. Online tools -specialized search =
engine,=20
customized and manageable information profiles, interactive =
communication-=20
are planned in order to meet the needs of a large spectrum of =
users=20
-scientists, engineers, decision-makers, journalists, educators =
and=20
students.
The implementation of the Internet portal is being =
done in=20
close collaboration with all European institutions interested in=20
participating in its development, and later on in its operation.=20
Furthermore, an agreement with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic =
Commission (IOC) is being concluded whereby EurOcean will maintain =
the IOC=20
regional portal for Europe.
EurOcean founded by the Foundation for Science and =
Technology (Portugal) and Ifremer (France), wishes to broaden its=20
membership to other European institutions and contacts have been =
already=20
established with several countries. Moreover, privileged links =
will be=20
sought with the European Commission in Brussels and the European =
Science=20
Foundation=92s Marine Board in Strasbourg.
Contacts:
![3DEurOcean](3D"") |
|
|
|
EurOcean
Laurent=20
d=92Ozouville,
Director
E-mail: =
eurocean@fct.mct.pt
Phone:=20
00 351 21 392 4486 http://www.eurocean.org/ |
IFREMER
Laure Fournier,
Director =
for=20
Communication
E-mail: laure.fournier@ifremer.fr
Phone:=20
00 33 1 46 48 22 47 http://www.ifremer.fr/ |
FCT/MCT
M=E1rio Ruivo,
President =
of the=20
Portuguese Intersectorial Oceanographic Commission
Phone: =
00 351=20
21 390 43 30 E-mail: cointersec.presid@fct.mct.pt=
http://www.fct.mct.pt/ |
=20
=