Description: EuroSea is a holistic large-scale project encompassing the full value chain of marine knowledge, from observations to modelling and forecasting and to user-focused services. This report summarizes the legacy of EuroSea as planned and measured through a dedicated impact monitoring protocol, a holistic assessment of the project's successes in advancing and integrating European ocean observing and forecasting systems. Since its start, EuroSea has been analysing how well the project progresses towards the identified areas of impact. Impact assessment is not performance evaluation. These terms overlap but are distinct: performance relates to the efficient use of resources; impact relates to the transformative effect on the users. The EuroSea legacy report is presented through an aggregation and analysis of the EuroSea work towards achieving its impacts. Overall, over 100 impacts have been identified and presented on the website and in a stand-alone impact report. The legacy report sheds light on 32 most powerful impacts (four impacts in each of the eight EuroSea impact areas). EuroSea Impact Areas: 1. Strengthen the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS), support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the GOOS Regional Alliances; 2. Increase ocean data sharing and integration; 3. Deliver improved climate change predictions; 4. Build capacity, internally in EuroSea and externally with EuroSea users, in a range of key areas; 5. Develop innovations, including exploitation of novel ideas or concepts; shorten the time span between research and innovation and foster economic value in the blue economy; 6. Facilitate methodologies, best practices, and knowledge transfer in ocean observing and forecasting; 7. Contribute to policy making in research, innovation, and technology; 8. Raise awareness of the need for a fit for purpose, sustained, observing and forecasting system in Europe. Ocean observing and forecasting is a complex activity brining about a variety of technologies, human expertise, in water and remote sensing measurements, high-volume computing and artificial intelligence, and a high degree of governance and coordination. Determining an impact on a user type or an area, therefore, requires a holistic assessment and a clear strategic overview. The EuroSea impact monitoring protocol has been the first known such attempt in a European ocean observing and forecasting project. The project’s progress has been followed according to the identified impact areas, through consortium workshops, stakeholder webinars, tracking, and reporting. At the end of EuroSea, we are able to demonstrate how well we have responded to the European policy drivers set out in the funding call and the grant agreement of our project, signed between the European Commission and 53 organizations, members of the EuroSea consortium. The project's impact is diverse, spanning areas from strengthening ocean observing governance to contributing to policymaking or boosting ocean research, innovation, and technology. Each impact area underscores EuroSea's commitment to a sustainable and informed approach to ocean observing and forecasting for enhanced marine knowledge and science-based sustainable blue economy and policies.

Description: This report provides an overview of EuroSea's initiatives focused on engaging the next generation of ocean observing and forecasting stakeholders. Many activities took place, including delivering workshops, presenting the EuroSea itinerant exhibition, collaborating with the WASCAL Floating University and the SEA-EU inter-university initiative, supporting the international Ocean Observers Initiative, and much more. Engaging the next generation of stakeholders in meaningful discussions and innovative projects is essential to ensure future-oriented intergenerational collaboration. Yet, this is often an overlooked aspect of public engagement within the Horizon 2020 landscape as it requires engagement techniques specifically tailored to reach the young generation. Within the framework of Horizon 2020, the European Union's research and innovation funding program, public engagement traditionally targets a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, civil society organizations, NGOs, and citizens. While these efforts are crucial for fostering inclusive and transparent dialogue, targeted initiatives directed towards the younger generation and early-career ocean professionals need to be expanded. It is important to recognize the concerns, unique perspectives, and aspirations of young individuals who will inherit the outcomes of today's research and innovation. Dedicating resources to engage with the next generation is vital to ensure their active involvement in shaping their future and addressing global challenges such as the sustainability of ocean observing, monitoring, and forecasting. EuroSea has recognized the importance of fostering a deeper understanding of ocean observing and forecasting among the younger generation. This deliverable and the many activities feeding into it are a testament to EuroSea's commitment to this cause. This report focuses on the lessons learnt from a diverse array of activities engaging the next generation of ocean observing and forecasting stakeholders, demonstrating the extensive range of possibilities for involving the younger generation. It underscores the importance of tailoring approaches to different age groups, from school children to university graduates and adapting engagement strategies to their varying interests and life stages. Every experience—even the ones that did not turn out as expected—has shown to be beneficial, and it is important to share lessons learnt and identify best practices while expanding these kinds of initiatives. EuroSea's dedication to engaging the next generation of stakeholders is a significant step in fostering inter-generational dialogue and promoting blue skills and knowledge sharing. Valuable lessons have been learnt from the EuroSea engagement activities and provide guidance for future initiatives aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of our ocean among the younger generation and engaging them in conversations that impact their future on this planet.