In 2010, the SUBMARINER Project began, seeking to further “environmentally appealing innovative uses of Baltic Sea resources, thus contributing toward its aim to become a model region for sustainable sea management.” The SUBMARINER project ended in 2013, after producing four major deliverables which have continued to have an influence ever since: the Compendium, the Roadmap, implementation of regional development activities, and the building of a network – the SUBMARINER Network.
In October 2024, we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a party and members’ assembly in Berlin, where members from across Europe met to discuss the past decade of collaboration, make plans for the future, and celebrate!
You can find some of the presentations given by SUBMARINER Network members during the meeting here:
- Tom Kleppestø from the Ocean Industry Forum Oslofjord on the Oslofjord crisis
- Sonja Andrén Innovatum Science Park on their collaborative work
- Eva Strothotte from the University of Kiel on the ULTFARMS project
- Joel Lindholm from Under Ytan Ab on Project Björkskär & BioBuz
The SUBMARINER Network in its modern form was created at in December 2013, when eight research institutions, public administrations, NGOs and business parks from all around the Baltic took the joint initiative to register the SUBMARINER Network as a non-for-profit European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG).
With a permanent secretariat based in Berlin / Germany, the SUBMARINER Network has ever since evolved into the cooperation and communication platform of actors engaged in innovative approaches to the sustainable use of marine resources counting over 40 institutional members; 250+ partner institutions; 1500+ experts and reaching out to more than 7800+ targeted stakeholders.
Until today we have raised more than 145 million EUR spread over more than 40 different projects organized around nine central pillars: 1) Algae Cultivation and Products; 2) Bivalve Cultivation & Products 3) Fisheries & Aquaculture; 4) Marine Protected Areas; 5) Ocean Multi-Use; 6) Maritime Spatial Planning; 7) Policy & Governance, 8) Business Support; 9) Education & Capacity Building. In our new project brochure, you can read more about our 40+ current projects working on all aspects of the blue bio economy.
And our voice gets stronger and stronger: Since the beginning, the SUBMARINER Network has acted as the blue flagship umbrella projects under the EUSBSR. Since December 2022, we are also leading the coordination and support action of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters in the Baltic and North Sea; aiming to inspire and engage stakeholders to take the actions necessary to make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular by 2030. In our impact report, you can read more about our successes over the past ten years.
We are pleased to be celebrating ten years of the SUBMARINER Network, in which our work and the work of our partners has continued to influence the development of a sustainable circular economy in the Baltic Sea Region. We are very much looking forward to what the next years will bring.
Interested in exploring the benefits of becoming a SUBMARINER Network member? Learn more here.
Photos: CC Thomas Rosenthal
