The Unite!WIDENING project, initiated in January 2024, was conceived to be a complementary project within the scope of the European University Alliance Unite!. It is in this context that the conference "Mission Restoring our Ocean and Waters" will take place in the Main Meeting Room - Pavilhão Central at Técnico (Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisboa), on March 22nd.
This Project aims to amplify the visibility of scientific excellence and the valorization of knowledge from universities in Widening countries, and throughout the Alliance, through cooperation aligned with the major societal challenges embedded in the Missions.
The consortium involves nine leading European universities in research and education, also partners of the University Alliance Unite!, two of them in Widening countries, two science and technology parks, a development agency, and an innovation management SME.
One of the specific objectives of the project is to strengthen the global competitiveness and international visibility of the Universities, promoting the European Research areas policy and creating critical mass in key areas such as green transition, digitalization, and the Mission areas of Horizon Europe.
To identify the main areas of R&D&I, the project will analyze relevant EU policies and documents, such as the 5 Missions of the EU Horizon 2030 (in particular Mission Cities, Mission Adaptation, and Mission Ocean) among others. This work will result in identifying the strengths and needs of countries expanding in the green transition, reinforced by the identification of areas of R&D&I of interest for common research projects.
The EU's Mission Ocean aims to protect and restore the health of our oceans and waters through research and innovation, citizen participation, and blue investments. The Mission's new systemic approach addresses the ocean and waters as a whole and plays a key role in achieving climate neutrality and nature recovery.
The three objectives of the "Restore our oceans and waters by 2030" Mission are:
- Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030;
- Prevent and eliminate pollution of our oceans, seas, and waters, in line with the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan for Air, Water, and Soil;
- Make the blue economy sustainable, carbon-neutral, and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Strategy for a Sustainable Blue Economy.