AMRIT: Uniting Marine Research Infrastructures for a Sustainable and Integrated European Ocean Observing System (EOOS)

The European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) is a vital framework for understanding and protecting Europe’s marine environments. At its core, the EOOS relies on several key Marine Research Infrastructures (MRIs)—EMSO, EURO-ARGO, ICOS ERIC, EuroFleets+, EuroGoShip, GROOM RI, JERICO RI, and MINKE—to supply critical, in situ ocean data to support scientific research and Copernicus services. Despite their essential contributions, these MRIs face challenges: lack of cross-coordination limits their capacity to support cutting-edge research, while insufficient integration results in resource inefficiencies and data silos.

The Horizon Europe Project AMRIT (Advance Marine Research Infrastructures Together) addresses these gaps by convening these MRIs and leveraging the global coordination expertise of OceanOPS/WMO. Together, AMRIT aims to:

• Streamline operations across ocean observation platforms,
• Maximize sensor use and accelerate sensor innovation,
• Leverage complementary capabilities of diverse observational assets, and
• Foster coherence in the ocean data value chain from collection to end-user delivery.

At the heart of AMRIT’s mission is the establishment of an EOOS Technical Support Centre (EOOS TSC), which will:

• Develop a fully integrated information service across the ocean data lifecycle, from initial planning to user access,
• Establish standardized data acquisition methodologies for Essential Ocean Variables, and
• Create a collaborative, federal structure with MRIs and their member networks to sustain these services.

The EOOS TSC represents a cornerstone for the long-term advancement of EOOS, setting a new benchmark in operational efficiency, data standardization, and inter-institutional collaboration. As a strategic initiative aligned with the EOOS 2023-2027 Strategy and the European Commission’s vision for shared ocean observing responsibilities, AMRIT will serve as a catalyst for strengthening Europe’s ocean knowledge infrastructure, ensuring a robust, unified approach to marine observation for decades to come. By leveraging the expertise and resources of multiple partners, AMRIT aims to enhance data quality, accessibility, and interoperability across the European ocean observing system.