The position defended by CESAM, CIIMAR, CCMAR, MARE and OKEANOS on the recognition of the Ocean as a Strategic Domain for Science and Innovation achieved widespread media coverage. Starting from a Lusa news wire, the topic was disseminated by numerous general, regional and specialized media outlets, featured in Rádio Comercial news segments and was subsequently developed in opinion articles and sectoral pieces. This repercussion brought to public debate the proposals of the Aveiro Declaration on Portuguese Marine Science 2026–2035.
This media projection resulted from the joint intervention of the five centres at the Science and Innovation Meeting 2026, held on 15 and 16 July at the Lisbon Congress Centre. In the parallel session dedicated to Oceans, the presentation “The Ocean as a Strategic Domain in S&I” was given, which brought to the national debate on the priorities of the new Agency for Research and Innovation (AI²) the consolidated vision of the Aveiro Declaration.
The initiative comes at a decisive moment for defining the strategic domains that should guide AI²’s actions. The five centres argue that the Ocean should be recognized as a priority area, as it is a domain that simultaneously encompasses sovereignty, security, climate, energy, biodiversity, food, geological resources, data, cultural heritage, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, economy, diplomacy and innovation.
Together, CESAM, CIIMAR, CCMAR, MARE and OKEANOS represent a critical mass of over 900 doctoral researchers, more than 10,500 scientific publications produced in the last five years, more than 700 projects and approximately 206 million euros in funding. This scientific capacity places the centres in a privileged position to contribute to an integrated national strategy based on knowledge.
The relevance of this proposal is reinforced by Portugal’s maritime dimension. The Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone encompasses approximately 1.7 million square kilometres, while the proposed extension of the continental shelf could give the country responsibility over a maritime area exceeding four million square kilometres. This reality demands scientific knowledge, observation and monitoring capacity, adequate infrastructure and highly qualified human resources.
The Aveiro Declaration on Portuguese Marine Science 2026–2035 resulted from the 1st Forum on Ocean Research, held on 13 March 2026 at the University of Aveiro and co-organized by the five research centres. Elaborated from the work developed by eight thematic groups, the Declaration presents a strategic vision for Portuguese marine science in the next decade and was sent to the relevant authorities with a request for integration of its objectives into AI²’s planning.
The document identifies structural weaknesses that continue to hinder the development of marine sciences in Portugal, including short-duration funding, instability of scientific careers, limitations in access to ships and other research infrastructures, data dispersion and the lack of long-term observation and monitoring programmes. It also emphasizes the need to strengthen the articulation between science, public policies, economic sectors and society.
The recognition of the Ocean as a Strategic Domain will enable the development of stable scientific policy, guided by missions and equipped with instruments suited to the scale and complexity of the national maritime territory. It will also ensure continuity in data collection, promote infrastructure sharing, strengthen Portuguese participation in international programmes and transform scientific knowledge into solutions for the country’s security, sustainability and competitiveness.
“The Aveiro Declaration identified the conditions necessary for ocean science to respond to the challenges of the next decade. Its presentation at the Science and Innovation Meeting made it possible to bring this vision to the debate on AI²’s priorities and strengthen the appeal for it to be translated into a strategic decision, with continuity, national scale and capacity to transform knowledge into public policies,” says Amadeu Soares, director of CESAM.
By hosting and co-organizing the 1st Forum on Ocean Research, contributing to the preparation of the Aveiro Declaration and participating in the presentation of this strategic vision at the Science and Innovation Meeting 2026, CESAM strengthens its commitment to building a national scientific policy for the Ocean, placing the University of Aveiro and its scientific community at the centre of the debate on Portugal’s maritime future.
Press Clipping — Ocean as a Strategic Domain
24 july 2026
- Lusa — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Rádio Comercial — referência ao tema em blocos noticiosos.
- Executive Digest — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Notícias ao Minuto — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Impala — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Correio da Manhã Canadá — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Observador — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- DNotícias — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Público — «Centros de investigação exigem oceano como prioridade estratégica da ciência portuguesa»
- SAPO — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Green Savers/SAPO — «Centros de investigação juntam-se para pedir o Oceano como Domínio Estratégico»
- Região Sul — «Oceano reivindica lugar entre os Domínios Estratégicos da Agência para a Investigação e Inovação»
- Água & Ambiente — «Cinco centros defendem que o oceano seja reconhecido como área estratégica para a ciência»
- Notícias do Mar — «Centros de investigação pedem que Oceano seja Domínio Estratégico da AI²»
25 july 2026
27 july 2026
28 july 2026