Subject: English
From: "Saved by Windows Internet Explorer 7"
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:26:43 +0100

28 February, 2002

Press release

EurOcean: A New Tool for a Marine European Research
Area

The Chairman of the Foundation for Science and Technology
(Portugal) and the Chief Executive Officer of Ifremer (the French Research
Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea) will officialise on February
28th 2002 the creation of EurOcean -European Centre for
Information on Marine Science and Technology in Lisbon.

This launching will take place with the participation of
Jose Mariano Gago, the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology,
Pierre Brochand, Ambassador of France in Portugal, the Executive Secretary
of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and the President
of the Portuguese Intersectorial Oceanographic Commission.

The creation of EurOcean results from governmental
initiatives engaged by Portugal with the support of France during the
International Year of the Ocean in 1998 in order to promote a European
politic of the Ocean. EurOcean aims to implement the conclusions of the
report titled "Towards a new marine dimension for Europe through research
and technological development", published in May 2000 by a group of
government experts from 15 European countries brought together under the
invitation of the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology. This
report was officially presented to the European Research Council, the
15th of June 2000.

EurOcean’s main goal is to contribute to the development of
a Marine European Research Area as follows:

to implement an operational online system to identify
sources of information and to facilitate access to their use.

to compile information about the new trends in marine
research and technology in Europe ; to stimulate the development of
indicators and to contribute to the preparation of analyses and
syntheses according to the demands of the decision-makers.

to facilitate co-operation amongst European
organisations dealing with marine science and technology, so as to
promote synergies and to develop actions of common interest.

The creation of an Internet portal for marine science and
technology is one of EurOcean’s first projects already engaged. This
portal is attempting to network many existing sites covering the various
sectors of marine research -fisheries, environment, industry,
transportation, science, etc. Online tools -specialized search engine,
customized and manageable information profiles, interactive communication-
are planned in order to meet the needs of a large spectrum of users
-scientists, engineers, decision-makers, journalists, educators and
students.

The implementation of the Internet portal is being done in
close collaboration with all European institutions interested in
participating in its development, and later on in its operation.
Furthermore, an agreement with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission (IOC) is being concluded whereby EurOcean will maintain the IOC
regional portal for Europe.

EurOcean founded by the Foundation for Science and
Technology (Portugal) and Ifremer (France), wishes to broaden its
membership to other European institutions and contacts have been already
established with several countries. Moreover, privileged links will be
sought with the European Commission in Brussels and the European Science
Foundation’s Marine Board in Strasbourg.

Contacts:

EurOcean

Laurent
d’Ozouville,
Director
E-mail: [email-masked]
Phone:
00 351 21 392 4486 http://www.eurocean.org/

IFREMER

Laure Fournier,
Director for
Communication
E-mail: [email-masked]
Phone:
00 33 1 46 48 22 47 http://www.ifremer.fr/

FCT/MCT

Mário Ruivo,
President of the
Portuguese Intersectorial Oceanographic Commission
Phone: 00 351
21 390 43 30 E-mail: [email-masked]
http://www.fct.mct.pt/

Contact