Co-designing Ocean Science-based Services and Solutions at Mercator Ocean International

Mercator Ocean International (MOi) is a non-profit international organization in the process of transforming into an intergovernmental organization. Using a user-driven and co-design approach, MOi supports the European Union’s (EU) policies and goals, in which understanding the ocean's current state and predicting its future play a critical role. Through its participation in many international projects and initiatives, MOi has built a strong stakeholder database across different disciplines and areas related to the ocean. MOi has gained the necessary trust to co-create services and solutions to support policy implementation and boost the Blue Economy across all maritime sectors by actively collaborating and engaging with these actors.  Diverse tools and activities, such as stakeholder workshops, working groups, co-developed what-if scenarios, and the mapping of needs across different sectors, are combined to enhance ocean science-based services and solutions. As an example of this strategy, MOi has been entrusted by the European Commission to implement the Copernicus Marine Service, which is a vital source of global and European regional seas information and one of the six pillars of the Copernicus Programme. The Copernicus Marine Service uses satellite and in-situ observations, along with 3D model simulations, to provide reference marine information on physical, biogeochemical, and sea ice conditions. By implementing a robust user feedback methodology, its portfolio of products and services is continuously refined considering core user needs, such as policy stakeholders and regional sea conventions, and non-Core users with different levels of knowledge on marine data. In addition, MOi aims to foster collaboration and partnership with stakeholders to develop ocean information that aligns with policy and governance needs. As a strategy, focus groups such as the Champion User Advisory Group (CUAG), formed by active and experienced users of Copernicus Marine Service, and the Marine Forum, formed by Member States’ representatives, were consolidated.  These initiatives, along with the Copernicus Thematic Hubs and National Collaboration Programme (NCP) promote synergies, develop new downstream services, and support decision-making in marine and maritime sectors. MOi is also leading several stakeholder engagement activities in international projects such as NECCTON, in which new tools and products are being co-developed in collaboration with a range of stakeholders to support fisheries management and biodiversity conservation. By working collaboratively with several groups of stakeholders and implementing a co-design methodology, MOi has the capacity to deliver user-driven services in ocean monitoring and forecasting that effectively answer the needs of users, from the policy sector to a broader audience.