PLOCAN will attend the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Forum, taking place virtually via South Africa from 3 to 4 December 2020 as partner of the All Atlantic Cooperation for Ocean Research and Innovation (AANChOR) project, which promotes the implementation of the South Atlantic Research and Innovation Flagship initiative and the Belém Statement (BS), signed by the EU, Brazil and South Africa in 2017, to which Argentine and Cape Verde adhered to.
The Forum also searches complementation with the strategy developed for the North Atlantic as part of the AORA-CSA Project execution, which was designed to provide scientific, technical and logistical support to the European Commission in developing and implementing trans-Atlantic Marine Research Cooperation between the European Union, the United States of America and Canada, in relation to the Galway Statement, aiming to approach the Atlantic Ocean as a whole through the Atlantic Alliance.
The event, which will be hosted by South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, will provide a platform for a diverse audience, ranging from policy makers, research leaders and academics to civil society representatives, entrepreneurs and the youth, to engage in inspirational topics relating to the Atlantic Ocean.
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the economies of the Atlantic countries. Accordingly, the theme of the Forum will focus on how the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance can contribute to the socio-economic recovery from the pandemic.
The Forum will showcase the joint pilot actions approved to initiate with seed funds from AANChOR, and the progress of initiatives to support the implementation of the Belém and Galway statements. These initiatives are aligned with the relevant blueprints of the All-Atlantic partners, such as South Africa’s Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy, the European Union’s Blue Growth Strategy,the Brazilian Blue Economy, Canada’s Ocean Strategy, as well as the relevant policies and strategies of the United States of America.
The Forum will also explore a range of related topics, including the society interface for a healthier Atlantic; skills for a changing Atlantic; Atlantic Ocean collaborative and data infrastructure; initiatives under the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Community; the launch of a new intake of All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors; and the contribution of the Alliance towards the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the Sustainable Development Goals.
