COLUMBUS

The overarching objective of Horizon2020 COLUMBUS (Monitoring, Managing & Transferring Marine and Maritime Knowledge for Sustainable Blue Growth; March 2015 - February 2018) project was to capitalise on the EC’s significant marine and maritime research by ensuring accessibility and uptake of research Knowledge Outputs by end-users (policy, industry, science and wider society) in the context of the EU Blue Growth Strategy. Building on significant past work, COLUMBUS set out to identify end-user needs and priorities and to collect “Knowledge Outputs” from past and ongoing EU-funded projects. COLUMBUS brought together a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder team representing all aspects of the research value chain, from funding agencies to end-users. Key strategic initiatives and networks further strengthened and provided a strong vehicle for project legacy. A network of nine Competence Nodes were established, each with a “Knowledge Fellow” and support team across Europe to ensure full thematic and spatial coverage, feeding outputs into the Marine Research Knowledge Gate. COLUMBUS also carried out strategic actions to enhance the visibility and impact of research to stakeholders and European citizens.

As partner to the Project, Seascape Belgium contributed to a Work Package on “Knowledge Supply”, developing an inventory of marine data, metadata and information relevant to the Marine Research Knowledge Gate, as part of an overarching effort to identify, collect and monitor research activity. SSBE also contributed to a WP on “Communication, Engagement and Knowledge Transfer towards a Blue Society”, supporting communication actions for wider dissemination and uptake of Project results.  

Related information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/652690 

Project website: columbusproject.eu