Eurofleets+ D8.1 - SWOT analysis report: first step towards a long-term sustainable coordination model for the European research vessels

Over the years, the European Commission has strongly supported the opening-up of existing national research infrastructures at a European Union level. Within research projects granted under EU funding programmes (e.g. FP7 and H2020), Transnational Access to key infrastructures is viewed as a key enabler of research and innovation to address global environmental, social and economic challenges. In addition, long-term sustainability of research infrastructures has been repeatedly highlighted as one of the main challenges for the overall research and innovation system in Europe. Long-term sustainability of research infrastructures has been recognized mandatory to remain at the forefront of science and technology and to stay competitive in the global knowledge-based economy. Based on this context, the EUROFLEETS+ project has the ambitious goal to promote a long-term sustainable model to ensure the coordination of the European research vessels (EUROFLEETS RI), ability to handle Transnational Access to research vessels and Large EXchangeable Instruments (LEXIs) in Europe, together with strengthening the sharing of knowledge, experience, best practice and collaboration among research vessels and/or LEXI operators and various stakeholders across Europe.