With Portugal holding the Presidency of the EU Council during the first semester of 2021, it provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen and promote the main EC priorities, including the European Green Deal and A Europe fit for the digital age. The "All-Atlantic R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: High-level & Stakeholders Conference" contributes to the implementation of these priorities based on strengthening R&I Cooperation across and along the Atlantic Ocean, from “pole to pole”. This conference will bring together high-level representatives and marine R&I stakeholders, from along and across the Atlantic Ocean, in a dialogue that will contribute to enhancing the science diplomacy efforts that began in 2011 at the European level, with the launching of the Atlantic Strategy and its 1st. Action Plan (2013) and the signing of the Galway and Belém Statements (respectively in 2013 and 2017). The event will be a step forward in the All-Atlantic Cooperation; it will be the opportunity to discuss the progress made so far, endorse a vision for the next years and launch a Pledging Platform as a new approach to the existing cooperation. This Platform will provide an understanding of the Atlantic marine R&I cooperation, enhancing stakeholder participation to co-design future actions and to monitor the progress enlarging the cooperative efforts. Discussions on the need for upscaled cooperation and new methodologies for ocean observation linked to digitalization processes represent an important innovative look forward to the integration of the Ocean-Space-Climate Nexus contributing to the topic of Ocean Sustainability. The conference’s Ministerial dimension linked to the stakeholders dynamic participation and side events will ensure the adequate involvement of the “All-Atlantic'' States and players and contributing to taking this All-Atlantic R&I Cooperation by two main legacy outputs, the Azores PPEU Conference Declaration and the All-Atlantic Pledging Platform.

Macaronesia is a biogeographical region of five archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean of which four are inhabited: Azores (Portugal), Canarias (Spain), Madeira (Portugal) and Cape Verde (Cabo Verde). These islands share common geographical traits and similar challenges with regards to climate change, environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. The Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores are part of the European Union (EU Outermost Regions). The overall objective of this project is to organise a shared Researchers' Night for the Macaronesia Region for the fourth consecutive year connecting the population of these remote islands under the umbrella of the universal language of science. This new edition, MACARONIGHT 2021 aims at further widening public awareness towards science, research and innovation, especially in areas where the Region faces global challenges, such as those identified in the European Green Deal. The aim is to reach out to the population in general yet keeping specific focus on teenagers and young parents with kids in particular. The project will deploy an enhanced social-media strategy that aims to engage with citizens of different ages in their own words through their daily used channels. Activities will cover 16 islands with the "main" activities organised at 4 locations: Tenerife (La Laguna), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Madeira (Funchal), Azores (Ponta Delgada). The programmes will be organised as "hybrid" online/physical events that will attract 30 thousand participants in total. We expect that the introduction of the Green Deal topic for 2021 will be translated into active change in the region's compliance with Green Deal objectives and the overall vision described by Climate KIC's strategy, "Transformation in Time".

Macaronesia is a biogeographical region of five archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean of which four are inhabited: Azores (Portugal), Canarias (Spain), Madeira (Portugal) and Cape Verde (Cape Verde). These islands share common geographical traits and cultural heritage, and have undergone a similar history since the beginning of the 15th century when they were discovered by Portuguese and Spanish sailors. Once major strategic outposts now they are considered as outermost (ultra-peripherical) regions of the EU (except Cape Verde, which declared its independence from Portugal in 1975). The population of Macaronesia is around 3 million inhabitants, corresponding to the size of a smaller EU country. The overall objective of this project is to organise a shared Researchers’ Night for the Macaronesia Region connecting the population of these islands under the umbrella of the universal language of science. By focusing on the scientific and technology areas identified in the Smart Specialization Strategies for the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores we will aim at raising public awareness for research areas that could be the greatest benefit for the Region. The project will support the public recognition of researchers, creating an understanding of the impact of researchers' work on citizen's daily life. Public recognition will then result in public support that is much needed for the implementation of the smart specialisation strategies themselves.

Macaronesia is a biogeographical region of five archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean of which four are inhabited: Azores (Portugal), Canarias (Spain), Madeira (Portugal) and Cape Verde (Cape Verde). These islands share common geographical traits and challenges, and have undergone a similar history since the beginning of the 15th century when they were discovered by Portuguese and Spanish sailors. Once major strategic outposts now they are the Outermost Regions of the EU (except Cape Verde, which declared its independence from Portugal in 1975). The population of Macaronesia is around 3 million inhabitants, corresponding to the size of a smaller EU country. The overall objective of this project is to organise a shared Researchers’ Night for the Macaronesia Region connecting the population of these remote islands under the umbrella of the universal language of science. MacaroNight II aims at creating overall public awareness of science, research and innovation, especially in areas where the Region has outstanding performance even by international comparison. The main theme for MacaroNight 2020 will be a “Window to the Atlantic” creating visibility the work of scientists who are in the frontline of the battle fought against global environmental challenges working in some of the most vulnerable ecosystems of the world. By increasing visibility and international recognition of the work of scientists from the region MacaroNight II will have long-lasting beneficial impacts that could extend beyond the immediate objectives of the project.

Following the endorsement of the Deep Geothermal Implementation Plan (DG-IP) by the SET-Plan Steering Group, a Deep Geothermal Implementation Working Group (DG-IWG) is being established to advance the DG-IP, with the aim of reaching collectively the technology targets that will place Europe at the forefront of the next generation of low carbon technologies. The objective of this project proposal is to create a support unit for the DG-IWG to achieve its goals efficiently and productively. The support unit will have three main work streams, 1) to provide the DG-IWG with relevant information and data from the various stakeholder groups to support the decisionmaking process and the implementations actions of DG-IWG on required actions; 2) to promote and organise initiatives to mobilize growth of and implementation within the geothermal community, e.g.: workshops, brokerages, consortium building and exploitation of RD&I results; 3) provide a secretariat for the DG-IWG for assistance on administrative issues and synergies & strategy support. The consortium will push forward a broad mobilisation of the Geothermal community to implement the action in the IP. Furthermore the project will focus on the development of synergies and strategies. New ways will be explored to maximize the impact of knowledge, funding and market growth at european, national and regional scale. This aproach supports to creation of a durable and long-lasting R&I ecosystem in the different Member-Sates and regions. The partners will focus on a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach. As such the project will support the collaboration and networking among representatives of the triple helix (research, industry and government) at the regional and national level and with their counterparts from the Horizon 2020 Associated Countries.