doubts, and at implementing and teaching circular approaches to entrepreneurs and
investors.
13.3 Directions for Future Research
The Commission develops efforts that create, share and communicate scientific
knowledge supporting the aims of the seventh Framework Programme (FP7) Environment and the Horizon 2020 (European Commission 2014, 2020a). Efforts will be
undertaken to disseminate and promote the use of relevant knowledge accumulated
under recent research and programs, as well as promoting new research in line with
priority setting that takes place regularly under the auspices of the Commission. A
number of the priority areas identified in the seventh Framework Program for
Research and Development and Horizon 2020 could benefit the objectives of
Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation framework programme for the
period 2021–2027 with € 100 billion budget. Besides theme-oriented international
actions carried in H2020, including inter alia projects in the areas of health, food,
agriculture and forestry, biotechnology, production technologies, energy, environment (including Climate Change) and transport, Horizon Europe will also target
culture, civil security, bioeconomy and natural resources highlighting the importance of innovation in this strategic planning (2020b).
The 2018–2020 Work Program focused efforts on fewer topics with bigger
budgets, directly supporting the Commission’s political priorities. Four focus areas
represent a combined budget of € 7 billion: (i) building a low-carbon, climate
resilient future, (ii) connecting economic and environmental gains – the circular
economy, (iii) digitizing and transforming European industry and services and
(iv) boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union. The focus areas cut across
thematic boundaries and bring together contributions from various program parts to
pursue a common objective and create sustained impact. They are endowed with a
substantial budget to allow for work of sufficient scale, depth and breadth.
From the analysis performed in Chaps. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this book, it is clear that
MUOPs can potentially benefit from each other in terms of infrastructure, maintenance, etc. Knowledge developed over the past years in the projects MERMAID and
TROPOS can contribute to a careful integral implementation of MUOPs in Europe,
including all relevant stakeholders, in order to overcome obstacles to enhance
MUOPs for energy production and aquaculture in the future. The research projects
MERMAID and TROPOS have encouraged cooperation among stakeholders and
brought together marine sectors such as aquaculture, wind energy, wave energy,
mooring and offshore engineering and other blue economy activities to learn and
discuss MUOPs. In both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic cases, the efforts made
through research projects are the most important, in which the sectors actively have
been involved. Through dialogues, increased attention and credibility of MUOPs
have developed and is now seen to be relevant to future governance strategies. The
research projects also allowed learning among participants, which can be useful to
254
P. Koundouri and L. Papadaki
investors.
13.3 Directions for Future Research
The Commission develops efforts that create, share and communicate scientific
knowledge supporting the aims of the seventh Framework Programme (FP7) Environment and the Horizon 2020 (European Commission 2014, 2020a). Efforts will be
undertaken to disseminate and promote the use of relevant knowledge accumulated
under recent research and programs, as well as promoting new research in line with
priority setting that takes place regularly under the auspices of the Commission. A
number of the priority areas identified in the seventh Framework Program for
Research and Development and Horizon 2020 could benefit the objectives of
Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation framework programme for the
period 2021–2027 with € 100 billion budget. Besides theme-oriented international
actions carried in H2020, including inter alia projects in the areas of health, food,
agriculture and forestry, biotechnology, production technologies, energy, environment (including Climate Change) and transport, Horizon Europe will also target
culture, civil security, bioeconomy and natural resources highlighting the importance of innovation in this strategic planning (2020b).
The 2018–2020 Work Program focused efforts on fewer topics with bigger
budgets, directly supporting the Commission’s political priorities. Four focus areas
represent a combined budget of € 7 billion: (i) building a low-carbon, climate
resilient future, (ii) connecting economic and environmental gains – the circular
economy, (iii) digitizing and transforming European industry and services and
(iv) boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union. The focus areas cut across
thematic boundaries and bring together contributions from various program parts to
pursue a common objective and create sustained impact. They are endowed with a
substantial budget to allow for work of sufficient scale, depth and breadth.
From the analysis performed in Chaps. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this book, it is clear that
MUOPs can potentially benefit from each other in terms of infrastructure, maintenance, etc. Knowledge developed over the past years in the projects MERMAID and
TROPOS can contribute to a careful integral implementation of MUOPs in Europe,
including all relevant stakeholders, in order to overcome obstacles to enhance
MUOPs for energy production and aquaculture in the future. The research projects
MERMAID and TROPOS have encouraged cooperation among stakeholders and
brought together marine sectors such as aquaculture, wind energy, wave energy,
mooring and offshore engineering and other blue economy activities to learn and
discuss MUOPs. In both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic cases, the efforts made
through research projects are the most important, in which the sectors actively have
been involved. Through dialogues, increased attention and credibility of MUOPs
have developed and is now seen to be relevant to future governance strategies. The
research projects also allowed learning among participants, which can be useful to
254
P. Koundouri and L. Papadaki