MARINE AND MARITIME R&I PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGIES. The review of active marine and maritime R&I programmes, generally defined by a particular scope, implementation time-frame and a budget allocation, is the preliminary step when addressing an operational framework of collaboration and concretely exploring funding opportunities for the realization of priority actions based on the feasibility of program alignment. While relevant strategies enacted at high political levels, as well as vision documents and policy briefings addressing specific needs, may not provide exhaustive solutions for developing R&I actions, they are often crucial starting points of possible future commitments and programming. Among these, the strategic research and innovation agendas of initiatives and networks already in place targeting marine and maritime R&I are useful as technical frameworks of reference for alignment and the identification of possible gaps. Their impact on the development of policies and endorsement of measures by the European Union and by countries is undisputed and collaborative efforts in regards to the seas and oceans science have been increasingly providing new insights in terms of future programming, as in the case of the EurOCEAN Rome Declaration on “Delivering impact, global leadership and sustainable blue growth for Europe”. The main output of the Conference, promoted by the European Marine Board held in Rome in 2014, addressed the regional seas specificities calling for the “recognition of regional seas diversity […] the sensitivity of the Mediterranean Sea calls for particular attention which is acknowledged by the proposed Blue Growth Research and Innovation Initiative for the Mediterranean”. This Declaration, endorsed during the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, led to important outcomes propelling marine and maritime research and innovation programmes in the area. Following the work of a group of representatives and experts from European Member States, with the support of the European Commission, the Venice Declaration on “Mediterranean Sea Cooperation Launching a Strategic Marine and Maritime Research and Innovation Agenda for Blue Growth” was signed by 10 European Member States in October of 2015. The event was a turning point that oriented R&I programmes towards Mediterranean blue jobs and growth. Such strategies are also examined in the present review. The Catalogue described in section 1.1 is based on the information provided by each BLUEMED CSA partner in reference to their...
