Towards a European network of ocean technology testing sites

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes: Harmonized approaches and processes across sites to ensure consistent and simplified access, taking into consideration the sensitivity of marine ecosystems in and around the sites; Accelerated innovation cycles for ocean technologies, shortened time-to-market and reduced costs and risks associated with offshore trials; Availability of cost-efficient at physical testing sites and expertise reducing the need for specialised in-house equipment and competencies; Enhanced ocean technologies ecosystem in support of European leadership in the global market; Provision of cost-efficient access to testing sites and expertise, reducing the need for specialised in-house equipment and competencies. Scope: The development and deployment of innovative ocean technologies for a wide range of applications are paving the way for more sustainable use of marine resources, for effective ocean monitoring and observation, for enhancing security and safety of offshore operations and infrastructures. Access to dedicated offshore sites for testing and validating these technologies in real-world marine environments can be cumbersome. There is a need to accelerate the innovation cycles of these technologies and support companies in the transition from laboratory to market-ready solutions. This topic is closely linked with the Technology Infrastructure initiative s under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space [1] and contributes to its overall objective of allowing companies to derisk their R&D&I investments before market introduction and to have ideas and concepts tested and validated in real conditions for faster uptake at commercial scale, while enhancing knowledge and skills, in line with the recommendations of the Commission Expert Group on Technology Infrastructures [2] . .. Proposals should originate from European operators of testing sites for ocean technologies. The aim is to establish or expand existing well-connected networks of physical sites centred in various geographical locations, complemented by digital twin -based sites, offering diverse marine environmental conditions across Europe for testing ocean technology prototypes and demonstrators, and supporting the testing process with unique competences and know-how, in line with certification requirements and in a way that sensitive technological developments and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are preserved. The physical testing sites can be complemented by digital twin representations making use of the EU…