European research fleets to deepen cooperation
Today, the project "EUROFLEET2 - New operational steps towards an alliance of European research fleets" is being launched in Brest. The project, coordinated by the IFREMER institute and funded under the 7th EU Research and Development Framework Programme, brings together 31 marine institutes, universities, foundations and SMEs from 20 European and Associated countries, with the aim of consolidating the construction of a pan-European distributed research fleet infrastructure, with coordinated access to European research vessels and equipment.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the project: "Maritime research is paramount to boost blue growth: this project is a good example of how EU-wide coordination can be beneficial to explore the potential of our seas and foster the involvement of industry. This is one of the more than 640 marine-related research projects funded under the 7th EU Research and Development Framework Programme and I am confident that we will continue to provide fundamental support to these activities once the Horizon 2020 Programme will be in place."
Twenty-two research vessels will take part in the project, which will coordinate multi-vessels experiments and large research missions, developing and testing new equipment and exploring deep-sea.
