Blue Tech Europe 2026 policy recommendations now available
In 21-22 April, the Blue Tech Europe 2026 conference brought together representatives from academia, policy and industry in Paris to discuss how Europe can strengthen its position in ocean observation. Jointly organised by the EU-funded projects BioGeoSea, MARCO-BOLO and OBAMA-NEXT, together with other European initiatives and organisations, the event created space for exchange on the technologies, data systems and collaborations needed to support more effective marine monitoring.
Following the conference, the organisers and contributors have produced a new policy recommendation document: Policy Recommendations for Scaling Blue Technologies for Ocean Observation in Europe. The document reflects the discussions held during the event and identifies key actions to help Europe move from fragmented, project-based approaches towards more coordinated, long-term and operational ocean observation systems.
The recommendations focus on 5 priority areas: strengthening European technological sovereignty, bridging the gap between research and market deployment, unlocking the value of ocean data, stimulating demand and investment, and supporting the skills, incentives and intermediary roles needed to translate innovation into impact.
For OBAMA-NEXT, these recommendations are closely aligned with the project’s work to improve marine biodiversity monitoring through innovative technologies, advanced analytical approaches and stronger links between science, policy and management. They also reinforce the importance of ensuring that new observation tools are not only developed, but also deployed, maintained and integrated into sustained monitoring systems that can support European environmental governance.
The policy recommendation document is now available and can be shared through partner networks and communication channels to support wider discussion on the future of blue technologies and ocean observation in Europe.
