The European Commission has opened two important calls for evidence that will help define the continent’s next major push in ocean and water research. Announced on 15 June 2026, the consultations seek input from researchers, universities, industry and civil society to shape a dedicated Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy expected by the end of the year.

Why universities and research institutions should pay close attention

European higher-education institutions stand to gain significantly from the coordinated approach the new strategy will promote. Fragmented funding streams and overlapping national programmes have long complicated large-scale marine and freshwater projects. The forthcoming strategy aims to align EU, national and regional efforts under a single source-to-sea framework, making it easier for universities to secure multi-year grants and build cross-border consortia.

Coastal universities in countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the Nordic nations already host world-class marine institutes. Inland institutions with strong hydrology and environmental engineering departments will also find new opportunities to contribute to freshwater resilience research. The calls explicitly highlight the need for improved skills pipelines, suggesting future support for dedicated master’s and doctoral programmes in ocean observation, water-smart technologies and nature-based solutions.

Details of the two parallel consultations

One call focuses on ocean priorities: marine ecosystems protection and restoration, ocean observation systems, marine data infrastructure and the sustainable blue economy. The second addresses water resilience: freshwater systems, efficiency measures, pollution reduction and innovative management tools. Both remain open until 2 August 2026 via the Commission’s Have Your Say portal and are available in all official EU languages.

Stakeholders are asked to identify knowledge gaps, barriers to innovation uptake and priority investment areas for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, including Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund. Feedback will directly inform the strategy’s objectives around ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation and market-ready technologies.

Commissioners outline the vision

Three Commissioners have already signalled strong political backing. Ekaterina Zaharieva, responsible for Startups, Research and Innovation, emphasised transforming science into practical solutions that protect ecosystems while supporting a competitive blue economy. Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, stressed the need to overcome fragmentation so that knowledge, infrastructure and talent can be deployed more effectively. Jessika Roswall, covering Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, highlighted the source-to-sea approach and the scaling of nature-based solutions.

Their statements underscore that research and innovation will sit at the heart of both the European Ocean Pact and the EU Water Resilience Strategy, two flagship policy initiatives that universities are already helping to implement through existing Missions.

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Implications for research funding and careers

University research offices across Europe are already preparing internal briefings. The strategy is expected to create clearer funding pathways from fundamental science through to demonstration and market deployment. This end-to-end support could reduce the current “valley of death” that many promising water and ocean technologies face after initial Horizon grants expire.

Early-career researchers stand to benefit from new emphasis on skills development. The calls mention strengthening the pipeline of experts for ocean science, water resilience and blue-economy jobs. This language often precedes dedicated calls for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, doctoral networks and postdoctoral fellowships focused on these themes.

Opportunities for cross-border collaboration

One of the strategy’s explicit goals is better alignment of EU, national and regional programmes. Universities that already participate in European Marine Board initiatives or the Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans are well placed to lead new consortia. The source-to-sea framing encourages partnerships between upstream river-basin institutions and downstream marine research centres, something that has proved administratively challenging in the past.

Institutions in landlocked countries can contribute through expertise in groundwater modelling, agricultural water efficiency and urban water systems, areas explicitly covered in the water-resilience call.

Timeline and next steps for academics

Researchers and university leaders have until early August to submit evidence. The Commission will then analyse responses and draft the strategy for adoption before the end of 2026. Successful input now can influence the shape of work programmes under Horizon Europe 2028–2034 and associated national co-funding schemes.

Many universities are organising internal workshops and encouraging principal investigators to coordinate responses through national contact points. Some are also reaching out to industry partners and regional authorities to ensure joint submissions that reflect real-world implementation challenges.

Broader European context and existing missions

The new strategy builds directly on the EU Mission “Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030” and the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Universities that have already secured Mission-related funding will find natural extensions for their work. The emphasis on observation, monitoring and forecasting systems aligns with ongoing investments in European research infrastructures such as Euro-Argo and the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water column Observatory.

By addressing fragmentation, the Commission hopes to improve Europe’s global standing in ocean and water sciences at a time when international competitors are scaling up their own marine research programmes.

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Practical advice for higher-education stakeholders

University strategy teams should map existing strengths against the two call documents and identify where they can add unique value. Research support offices can help principal investigators prepare concise, evidence-based submissions that cite concrete project outcomes and remaining barriers. Early-career networks and doctoral schools may wish to highlight skills gaps that future funding could address.

Those interested in following developments can monitor the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation website and the Have Your Say portal for updates once the consultation closes.

Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond

If the strategy delivers on its coordination ambitions, the coming years could see a noticeable uptick in joint degree programmes, shared research facilities and industry-sponsored chairs in ocean and water fields. European universities that position themselves early stand to attract both talent and investment as the blue and water-smart economies expand.

The Commission’s invitation to contribute is therefore not only a policy exercise but a direct opportunity for the higher-education sector to help define the research landscape for the next decade.