viii
Foreword
In today’s reality, the emphasis of using research as the base for policy decisions
is a cross-cutting issue and frequently featured in environmental and sustainability
policy documents. The demand for strengthening the data and knowledge basis of
policy making is repeated in documents ranging from the global, UN led initiatives
(IOC/UNESCO 2011), to modern EU regulations (EC 2008b) and to the Baltic Sea
Action Plan (HELCOM 2007) of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. The issue is also highlighted as a horizontal action in the overarching EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EC 2008a). All in all, there is an urgent need for
targeted research fostering sustainable development.
From the wider perspective of research, development and innovation policy,
the BalticWay project demonstrates the added value and power of multinational
cooperation. Only recently have the national and EU level research governance
structures been adapted so that they can efficiently support multinational cooperation. The cradle of the BONUS programme that provided funding for all nationalities involved in the BalticWay and other BONUS projects that were implemented in 2009–2011, lies in the concept of the European Research Area
(ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.htm). It aims at a unified research area open to
the world based on the internal market, in which researchers, scientific knowledge
and technology move and circulate freely. The EU is fostering a better use of research for the benefit of the society by various funding instruments. In order to lead
the efforts of marine sciences towards this very goal, the EU has issued its strategy
for the marine and maritime research (EC 2008a).
The above and many other policies are indicating how we humans should learn
more about nature in order to adjust our activities so that our common planet remains
healthy for future generations. Yet bringing it all into practice needs research. Also,
it is not enough any more to be an excellent researcher but there is also a need to
be conscious about societal needs and how the results from researchers’ dedicated
work can be utilized for the benefit of the citizens.
BalticWay puts into practice this new way of thinking concerning the role of science in society and in an excellent way shows what the role and place of science
should be. It shows how science that seems very theoretical—fine-scale modelling
of semi-persistent surface currents—is capable of producing results that potentially
have very important practical applications. The results and the management suggestions made by the project team are now under real-life proofing and feasibility
validation and this way most likely on their way to contributing to actual solutions
that are needed for the good of the future of the Baltic Sea.
Kaisa Kononen
Executive Director, BONUS
Science for a better future of the Baltic Sea region
Helsinki, Finland
Foreword
In today’s reality, the emphasis of using research as the base for policy decisions
is a cross-cutting issue and frequently featured in environmental and sustainability
policy documents. The demand for strengthening the data and knowledge basis of
policy making is repeated in documents ranging from the global, UN led initiatives
(IOC/UNESCO 2011), to modern EU regulations (EC 2008b) and to the Baltic Sea
Action Plan (HELCOM 2007) of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. The issue is also highlighted as a horizontal action in the overarching EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EC 2008a). All in all, there is an urgent need for
targeted research fostering sustainable development.
From the wider perspective of research, development and innovation policy,
the BalticWay project demonstrates the added value and power of multinational
cooperation. Only recently have the national and EU level research governance
structures been adapted so that they can efficiently support multinational cooperation. The cradle of the BONUS programme that provided funding for all nationalities involved in the BalticWay and other BONUS projects that were implemented in 2009–2011, lies in the concept of the European Research Area
(ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.htm). It aims at a unified research area open to
the world based on the internal market, in which researchers, scientific knowledge
and technology move and circulate freely. The EU is fostering a better use of research for the benefit of the society by various funding instruments. In order to lead
the efforts of marine sciences towards this very goal, the EU has issued its strategy
for the marine and maritime research (EC 2008a).
The above and many other policies are indicating how we humans should learn
more about nature in order to adjust our activities so that our common planet remains
healthy for future generations. Yet bringing it all into practice needs research. Also,
it is not enough any more to be an excellent researcher but there is also a need to
be conscious about societal needs and how the results from researchers’ dedicated
work can be utilized for the benefit of the citizens.
BalticWay puts into practice this new way of thinking concerning the role of science in society and in an excellent way shows what the role and place of science
should be. It shows how science that seems very theoretical—fine-scale modelling
of semi-persistent surface currents—is capable of producing results that potentially
have very important practical applications. The results and the management suggestions made by the project team are now under real-life proofing and feasibility
validation and this way most likely on their way to contributing to actual solutions
that are needed for the good of the future of the Baltic Sea.
Kaisa Kononen
Executive Director, BONUS
Science for a better future of the Baltic Sea region
Helsinki, Finland