As marine biodiversity continues to rise on the agenda for policymakers, businesses and other stakeholders, understanding how we measure and monitor the health of our oceans has never been more important. This growing focus is reflected in the recently released report on marine biodiversity measurement, published by the EU Business & Biodiversity Platform. The report’s key findings will be presented during a webinar on 22 September 2026.
Following shifts in leadership and support, questions are emerging about the future of marine monitoring. In response, EMBRC convened BlueTech Europe 2026 in April 2026, in collaboration with MARCO-BOLO, TRICUSO, OBAMA-NEXT, BioGeoSea, SOOP, and the European Commission, bringing together experts from research, industry and policy to discuss the future of ocean observation and marine monitoring.
A key message from the conference was that private-sector companies will play an essential role in developing and deploying the technologies needed to support enhanced monitoring systems. At the same time, significant advances are already being made within academia, particularly in the development of marine observation technologies.
Building on the outcomes of the conference, EMBRC recently released its policy recommendations to scale marine observation technologies, developed in collaboration with leading research and policy partners. The recommendations outline five priorities to strengthen Europe’s leadership in ocean observation:
- Building European technological sovereignty
- Bridging the gap between academia and industry
- Unlocking the value of ocean data through digital tools, including AI and machine learning
- Stimulating market demand for marine observation solutions
- Strengthening the skills and innovation ecosystems needed to bring new technologies to market
To continue the conversation, EMBRC has also collaborated with the podcast channels Oceanography and Green Frequency to launch two special episodes exploring the future of ocean technology and marine biodiversity observation.
The episodes discuss in detail what happened at BlueTech Europe and examine the technologies, partnerships and skills needed to better understand, monitor and protect marine ecosystems. They also explore both what ocean technology can deliver for society and what the sector itself requires to reach its full potential in addressing biodiversity loss and climate-related challenges.
Listen to the podcasts:
“What Do We Need From Ocean Technology?”
“What Does Ocean Technology Need From Us?”