Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) evolution: new and innovative ocean data assimilation techniques
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See in 5 min if you're eligible for Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) evolution: new and innovative ocean data assimilation techniques offering max €18.0M funding💰 Funding Details
Funding Description
Grant Essentials
* Programme / Call: Horizon Europe – Cluster 4 "Digital, Industry & Space", Destination 5 – Open strategic autonomy; Call identifier HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-44.
* Action Type: HORIZON-RIA – Research & Innovation Action delivered as a lump-sum grant (cost categories are fixed ex-ante; no cost reporting during the project).
* Total EU Contribution per Project: Up to €18 million. The call explicitly states that the Commission expects to fund a single proposal (one winner takes the full envelope).
* Duration Indicative: 48–54 months typically for CMEMS evolution topics.
* Opening / Deadline: 22 May 2025 – 25 Sept 2025 (17:00 CET) single-stage submission.
What Will Be Funded
1. New ocean data-assimilation methods (coupled, multi-scale, ensemble, AI-enhanced).
2. Exploitation of new observation streams (Sentinel Expansion, NextGen missions, novel in-situ platforms).
3. Software infrastructure that is modular, shareable, HPC-ready, and released under an open licence.
4. Uncertainty quantification & observing-system impact studies (incl. OSSEs/OSSI, sensitivity tools).
5. Validation & inter-comparison protocols and community data challenges.
6. Demonstrator services / downstream pilots showcasing added value for CMEMS users.
7. Research-to-operations (R2O) pathways in close cooperation with Copernicus Marine Entrusted Entity (Mercator Ocean International – MOi).
8. International cooperation contributions to GEO-Blue Planet & the European Digital Twin Ocean.
Eligibility Snapshot
* Consortium: At least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member or Associated States. Given the size & scope, a pan-European consortium of 10–20 partners is realistic.
* Entities encouraged: CMEMS production centres & TACs, HPC centres, universities, SMEs with AI/HPC expertise, sensor & platform owners, international partners (funded by their own resources where needed).
* Mandatory use of Copernicus/Galileo services when satellite data or positioning is used.
* Gender dimension: To be addressed only if scientifically relevant.
* Open Science: Publications OA; software released under recognised OSI-approved licence.
Financial Particularities
* Lump-Sum Logic: You must build a credible, bottom-up budget but payments will be made against achieved work-package milestones & deliverables, not actual incurred costs.
* Pre-financing: ~50–60 % upon signature; balance released after interim/final reviews.
* Sub-contracts & third-party in-kind contributions allowed but must be described and costed in the lump sum.
Key Compliance Points
* One proposal only will be funded → competition will be intense; alignment with CMEMS Service Evolution Roadmap is critical.
* Software openness & IPR: Grant Agreement will require permissive licensing enabling operational uptake by CMEMS; proprietary code is a risk.
* R2O governance: Clear plan for hand-over to MOi (TRL 5→7) expected.
* Security & autonomy: All HPC developments must comply with EU export-control and cyber-security rules.
📊 At a Glance
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🇪🇺 Strategic Advantages
EU-Wide Advantages and Opportunities for CMEMS Evolution: New and Innovative Ocean Data Assimilation Techniques
1. Strategic Alignment with Flagship EU Agendas
• European Green Deal & Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” – provides a scientific backbone for reaching carbon-neutral, climate-resilient coasts and seas.
• Destination “Open Strategic Autonomy in Space” – upgrades a core Copernicus service, directly boosting EU technological sovereignty.
• European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) – the call explicitly invites contributions, positioning the consortium at the heart of the DTO build-out.
2. Pan-European Scientific Excellence & Critical Mass
• Brings together leading operational centres (Mercator Ocean International, ECMWF, SMHI, DMI, HCMR, etc.) and >30 marine institutes via EuroGOOS.
• Cross-border training of >100 early-career scientists leveraging Marie-Skłodowska-Curie and university networks.
• Access to EuroHPC pre-exascale machines (LUMI, LEONARDO, MARE NOSTRUM-5) enables assimilation experiments impossible for single states.
3. Integrated Use of Europe’s Observation Assets
• Unified assimilation of Sentinel-1/2/3/6, Copernicus Expansion, Next-Gen CRISTAL, ROSE-L, complemented by in-situ fleets coordinated through EuroSea, EMSO & ICOS-Ocean.
• EU coordination avoids data silos, maximises return on €10 bn already invested in Copernicus.
4. Economies of Scale in AI & HPC Software Infrastructure
• Joint open-source framework reduces duplicated national efforts; a single EU code base can be ported and optimised once for all HPC architectures.
• Shared “algorithm marketplace” accelerates uptake of AI emulators, ensemble generators and bias-correction modules by SMEs.
5. Market & Industrial Growth Across the Blue Economy
• Enhanced CMEMS products unlock new downstream services for insurance, renewable offshore energy, fisheries and autonomous shipping (EU Blue Economy valued at €183 bn GVA).
• Creates opportunities for >400 Earth-observation SMEs identified in the CASSINI database.
6. Reinforcing EU Autonomy & Security
• Reduces reliance on non-EU assimilation software, critical for maritime surveillance, border control and subsea infrastructure protection.
• Strengthens resilience of strategic subsea data cables and offshore grids through better hazard forecasting.
7. Policy Support & Societal Benefits
• Directly supports Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Common Fisheries Policy, Climate Adaptation Strategy and EU Civil Protection Mechanism with higher-accuracy forecasts and uncertainty estimates.
• Provides actionable information to 1 200+ registered CMEMS institutional users (harbour authorities, search-and-rescue, oil-spill responders).
8. International Leadership & Diplomacy
• Positions the EU as a global standard-setter in coupled, AI-driven ocean assimilation; facilitates soft-power diplomacy via GEO Blue Planet, UN Decade of Ocean Science.
• Opens pathways for co-development with Africa, Latin America and Indo-Pacific partners, supporting EU Global Gateway objectives.
9. Gender, Open Science and Skills Agenda
• Consortium-wide equality plan can pilot gender-balanced leadership in marine digital twins.
• Mandatory open-source licensing catalyses community innovation and aligns with EOSC principles.
10. Synergies & Leverage of Other EU Instruments
• Blends Horizon lump-sum with Digital Europe (data spaces), CEF-2 Digital (connectivity), EMFAF (fisheries) and regional ESIF funds, amplifying impact.
11. Accelerated Transfer to Operations
• Early involvement of Copernicus Entrusted Entity (Mercator Ocean) shortens R&D-to-operation cycle from ~6 to 3 years.
• Harmonised IPR clauses across Member States simplify integration into the CMEMS production chain.
12. Risk Mitigation Through EU Diversity
• Geographic spread of partners distributes technical and financial risk, ensuring continuity even under local disruptions.
• Shared contingency access to multiple HPC sites guarantees uninterrupted model production.
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In summary, an EU-scale approach uniquely enables the pooling of scientific talent, observation assets and digital infrastructure needed for a generational leap in ocean data assimilation, while simultaneously advancing Europe’s strategic autonomy, industrial competitiveness and societal resilience.
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