After the 4th Mission Ocean and Waters event, we presented the OLAMUR project’s M36 progress for review in collaboration with associate regions and demonstrated what has been achieved by expanding activities into new basins.
This formed a central component of our annual partners meeting in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The week proved productive, featuring extensive knowledge exchange and valuable insights into advancing research and innovation while addressing socio-economic and regional market needs. There is growing interest in marine multi-use in northern Portugal; however, the offshore wind sector continues to prioritise security, risk management, and incentives for cross-sector collaboration, as Ricardo Rosa from Ocean Winds noted. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to hear local authorities, including the Municipal de Viana do Castelo, Dr Ricardo Simoes, and the Comissão de Coordenação de Desenvolvimento Regional Norte (CCDR-N), emphasise the potential benefits for the region and alignment with the Mission’s objectives.
The sessions concluded with updates from all Associate Regions: Bulgaria, Ireland, Spain, and Turkey. Irish associates have been very active in key-focused events and activities, including community outreach initiatives involving schools, while Spain contributed data and models on nutrient concentrations along the northern coast. Bulgaria recently collaborated with our SINTEF partners on a stakeholder workshop, and Turkey reported on stakeholder events with the regional fisheries and aquaculture sector and more activities to follow. As we assess the impact of Mission Ocean, we aim to translate these efforts into tangible actions that generate measurable outcomes.
The annual meeting convened participants from the wind energy sector, local authorities, research institutions, and academia. Fifty-seven OLAMUR consortium members, including the advisory board, participated. The positive feedback received was highly encouraging.
On behalf of all OLAMUR partners and associates, we express our gratitude for the successful week, organised by the Municipality of Viana do Castelo and Clara Rodriguez from WavEc, and for all the stakeholders who attended. We look forward to continued collaboration and future opportunities to convene.
