SEADOTs at European Ocean Days: Advancing Digital Innovation for Sustainable Ocean Management
The European Ocean Days is an annual event organized by the European Commission, bringing together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to collaborate on solutions for ocean protection and restoration. Held in Brussels, this year’s event convened 67 Mission Ocean projects, fostering discussions on digital innovation, marine restoration, and sustainable ocean governance. SEADOTs was actively involved in these conversations, reinforcing its role in integrating social, ecological, and economic data into Digital Ocean Twins (DOTs).
A key highlight of the event was the Mission Ocean Forum (Watch the event here), the central gathering of the week, where the scientific coordinator of SEADOTs, Lara Veylit, was invited to participate in a panel discussion on Digital Ocean Twins. This session focused on how to make the development and rollout of Digital Twins more efficient across disciplines that are not traditionally considered in ocean models. Veylit emphasized the importance of incorporating social, economic, and environmental data into the Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) to ensure that decision-making is fully data-driven. The discussion underscored the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in developing digital tools and highlighted the crucial role of communication and shared understanding in advancing digital ocean governance.
During the panel, the work of CLIMAREST, SEADOTs, and Iliad was showcased, demonstrating how different projects are contributing to more integrated and holistic digital ocean models. Veylit also addressed the importance of securing long-term funding for large-scale data infrastructure initiatives, such as EDITO and Blue-Cloud, which are essential for maintaining and expanding digital ocean research capabilities.
Beyond the Mission Ocean Forum, SEADOTs actively engaged in a range of discussions and collaborative sessions throughout the European Ocean Days. The SURIMI project, which also addresses how social-ecological models can be integrated into digital twins, was also represented at EU Ocean Days with a presentation from a representative from the European Marine Board. In the Mission Ocean & Waters Projects Meeting, project coordinators examined progress toward Mission Ocean objectives, identifying opportunities to enhance cross-project collaboration. At the KPIs & Impact Measurement Workshop, SEADOTs contributed to discussions on developing standardized methods for assessing the long-term impact of ocean-related projects. The project was also featured in the “Waves of Collaboration” event, where it presented its unique approach to integrating social-ecological data into Digital Twins, a crucial step in ensuring more effective and inclusive ocean management strategies.
The European Ocean Days reinforced the essential role of digital technologies like SEADOTs' Digital Ocean Twins in shaping science-driven policies for ocean sustainability. Discussions highlighted the need for long-term funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and stronger data integration strategies to improve real-world decision-making. By bridging environmental, social, and economic dimensions, SEADOTs is contributing to a more holistic and actionable approach to marine ecosystem management.
Looking ahead, SEADOTs remains committed to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and advancing digital solutions that will support sustainable ocean management. By participating in initiatives like the European Ocean Days, the project continues to play an important role in shaping the future of ocean governance and ensuring that decisions are informed by comprehensive data from a range of scientific disciplines.