Background

This report, which was presented to the European Council for Research on 15th June 2000, recognized "the benefit of a focal point for information on marine science and technology, which could:

• facilitate access to relevant information;
• provide access to and develop marine quantitative indicators, including socio-economic data;
• compile and prepare information on trends in marine science and technology;
• help prepare synthesis to decision-makers;
• facilitate access to information to enhance cooperation between scientific and technological institutions, industry, and other stakeholders;
• contribute to public awareness and educational programmes on marine issues."

Creation of EurOcean as a permanent structure

Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) decided to implement the recommendations of the above-mentioned report and signed a cooperation agreement in February 2002 to set up a centre for information on marine science and technology – EurOcean.

The idea of creating EurOcean was to have a permanent structure that could focus on creating, maintaining and making permanently available information on marine science and technology, overcoming the then lack of visibility and difficulties of information access.

The success and relevance of the EurOcean Network have been demonstrated over subsequent years with growing membership and involvement in numerous European projects and initiatives. 

EurOcean Presidents and Pioneers

Carlos García-Soto

(President 2020-present)

 

Director Global Change Unit - IEO

Slawomir Sagan

(President 2016-2020)

 

Professor - IOPAN

Ricardo Serrão Santos

(President 2013-2016)

 

Portuguese Minister of the Sea (2020-present)

Member European Parliament (2014-2019)
President of the Institute of Marine Research, University of Azores, Portugal (2006-2014)

Per Nieuwejaar

(President 2009-2012)

 

Director, Research Vessels Department, IMR Norway (2000-present)

Jean-François Minster

(EurOcean Co-President 2002-2004)

 

Senior Vice-President, Scientific Development, TOTAL, SA, France (2006-present)
President-Managing Director of Ifremer, France (1999-2004)

Mário Ruivo

(President 2005-2008, EurOcean Co-President 2002-2004)

 

President of the National Council for Environmental Development, CNADS, Portugal (1997-2016); Portugal
President of the National Forum for Ocean Affairs (2008-2016), Portugal

 

 

EurOcean Executive-Directors

Sérgio Bryton

(Executive-Director 2019-present) 

Senior Researcher at European Commission Joint Research Centre (2016-2018)

Programming Services Director at Portuguese Directorate General for Maritime Policy (2013-2016)

Ned Dwyer

(Executive-Director 2015-2018)

Deputy-Director and Team Leader, Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland (2002-2014)

Telmo Carvalho

(Executive-Director 2009-2014)

Member of the Board of Directors of IPMA, Portugal (2018 - Present)

Advisor at the Cabinet of the Minister of the Sea, Portugal (2015-2018) 

Head of the Ocean Office, Science and Technology Foundation, Portugal (2015)

Laurent d´Ozouville

(Executive-Director 2002-2008)

Marine Board Executive Scientific Secretary, Belgium (1994-2001)
Retired 2009