Advanced technologies will be essential for a truly sustainable management of our seas and oceans and achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) in European marine waters. However, “transformative technologies” can go even further by changing the way people and societies undertake fundamental functions (maintain health, communicate, access energy and nutrition etc).
The 3rd Marine Board Forum was designed to examine future or emerging “Blue Technologies”. In this case, blue technologies are those technologies which will either be used in, or drawn from, the seas and oceans and which should have the potential to make a significant contribution either to marine science itself or to society. The Forum brought together policymakers, researchers and technology developers to discuss not only key blue technologies but also the way these technologies can be achieved.
The Forum addressed the following questions:
- What blue technologies can we expect in the future?
- What impacts might they have on both science and society?
- What training, knowledge transfer and funding support is necessary to fast-track their development?
The Forum featured case studies and "flash” presentations - to showcase developing or future technologies which may have a significant scientific or societal impact. In the afternoon the participants discussed best practice in innovation support and knowledge transfer.
Foum proceedings: download here
Forum message and key highlights: Download here
News item: Read here
Programme and presentations
Book of abstracts: Download here
Press release: Download here
You can find the news release for this event here.
Location and date
The Forum took place in the centre of Brussels, at the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts (KVAB, Hertogsstraat 1, 1000 Brussels), on Wednesday 18 April 2012. The Academy is situated to the left from the Royal Palace, across Hertogsstraat.
The Marine Board gratefully acknowledges the financial and logistical support of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts towards the organization of the Forum.
Accommodation
The Forum venue is situated next to the Royal Palace; a number of hotels in the Brussels city centre will be within a walking distance from it. Click here to locate hotels in the vicinity of the venue (green arrow on the map indicates the Forum venue).
Contact at European Marine Board Secretariat: Email