The Blue-Cloud 2026 project builds on the existing pilot Blue-Cloud project (Oct 2019 – Sep 2022) and it evolves its pilot Blue-Cloud ecosystem into a federated European Ecosystem to deliver FAIR and Open Data and analytical services instrumental for deepening research of oceans, the EU sea, coastal and inland waters. It develops a thematic marine extension to European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) for accessible web-based science, serving the needs of the EU Blue Economy, Marine Environment and Marine Knowledge agendas.
42 months from 01/01/2023 to 30/06/2026
General aims
General objectives
- To expand and optimise the Blue-Cloud Data Discovery and access service (DD&AS) and federate additional Blue Data Infrastructure (BDIs)
- To expand and further develop the functionalities of the Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment (VRE) by federating more analytical and more e-infrastructures
- To stimulate further uptake and utilisation of the Blue-Cloud VRE services and capabilities for developing Virtual Labs by Blue Data Infrastructures
- To Develop and validate new Blue-Cloud analytical WorkBenches for data intensive processes
- To develop and publish a range of online courses and educational guidance documents
- To ensure long-term EOSC integration, alignment and growth of the EU digital ecosystem required to support research of oceans, seas, coastal and land waters
CMCC role
CMCC will contribute to Blue-Cloud 2026 by:
- Developing and testing analytical Blue Cloud WorkBenches for generating highly qualified data collections
- Using the Blue-Cloud Virtual Labs for demonstrating cross-domain web-based open science
- Integrating the Blue Cloud Virtual Research Environment with EOSC resources and services
- Involved in outreach, engagement and education
Activities
In addition to project management and communication and dissemination activities, the main activities of Blue-Cloud 2026 are:
- Seamless interoperability between EOSC and marine dataspaces/ environment
- Producing and reusing open and FAIR data
- Sharing research data across Member States and Associated Countries
- Expanding EOSC to become a trusted R&I data space
- Growing the partnership of Horizon Europe
Expected results
The main outcomes expected of Blue-Cloud 2026 strategy consists of:
- Involving leading partners in ocean science and ICT for guarenteeing sustainability
- Providing the link to leading EU Blue Data Infrastructures, serving as channels to promote uptake of project assets among thematic communities
- Establish assets with a lasting legacy in the context of the Ocean Decade, and future effors in marine research
- Providing wider societal involvement on critical issues under the Ocean Literacy Umbrella.
Coordinating organization
- Trust -IT Srl
- Mariene Informatie Services (MARIS BV)
- CNR
- Ifremer
- Mercator Ocean International
- Seascape Belgium
- Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ)
Project manager
Simone Phoré