G7 Future of Seas and Ocean Initiative

Arctic Science Summit Week 2024
2024-03-21 - 2024-03-29 | Edinburgh, Scotland
The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is organised annually by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to provide opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various scientific organisations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999 and has evolved into the most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organisation. For more information, visit https://www.assw.info/.
During the week, the Arctic Observing Summit will be held from 27 to 29 March 2024. For more information, click here: https://arcticobservingsummit.org/summits/aos-2024/.

G7 Science and Technology Ministerial 2024
2024-07-09 - 2024-07-11 | BOLOGNA AND FORLÌ
The Science and Technology Ministers of the Group of Seven, including the European Union, will convene from 9 to 11 July 2024 in Bolognia and Forlì, Italy.
For more information, visit: https://www.g7italy.it/en/

G7 FSOI Workshop on Marine Research Infrastructures integration and harmonization
2024-07-12 | Bologna, Italy
Research Infrastructures (RIs) are large-scale facilities that include instruments, resources, data, and services used by scientists for research in their respective fields. Marine RIs consist of specialized vessels, platforms, and marine facilities dedicated to research and monitoring, including sustained ocean observation systems. These systems enable continuous ocean observations that support scientific research, public services, marine resource management, spatial planning, meteorological forecasts, hazard response, climate services, policy needs, and the blue economy. Due to the number, heterogeneity, and complementarity of oceanic observing systems, a coordinated effort is required to integrate and interlink different RIs and national integrated ocean observing systems, as emphasized at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona.
To address this issue, the G7 FSOI Working Group endorsed a theme on the integration and harmonization of marine research infrastructures as a 2024 emerging topic. The aim is to develop a common definition of marine research infrastructure in the context of sustained ocean observing, to map the existing facilities and observing networks currently sustained by long-term investments, to review and assess the current limitations to sustained operations and barriers to global infrastructure sharing and collaboration, and to agree on a common vision and strategy for integration and harmonization.
The workshop will take place in Bologna, Italy on July 12, 2024. Invited participants include a) representatives of national agencies or ministries who finance ocean observing networks, b) leading experts and/or managers of national or regional marine research infrastructure/observing networks, c) Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) national focal points, and d) relevant experts from the Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructures to provide advice on how other global research infrastructures have been established and operated.
A summary of the workshop findings and recommendations will be presented at the 2024 G7 FSOI working group annual meeting on October 29-31, Rome. These recommendations and eventual agreements on coordinated actions will contribute to the FSOI Working Group report to the G7 Science and Technology Ministers.
Italy is leading the organization of this workshop with support from the UK.

G7 FSOI working group meeting 2024
2024-10-29 - 2024-10-31 | Rome, Italy
The G7 FSOI working group will hold its annual meeting in Rome, Italy from 29 to 31 October 2024, hosted by the Italian National Research Council (CNR).
The meeting will review the 2024 topics below in line with the revised action areas adopted at the G7 Scientific and Technological Ministerial in Bologna.
2024 Topics to be reviewed:

Arctic ocean observations,
One Argo,
Ocean Carbon,
Governance, coordination, and sustained funding for the observing system
Digital Twin of the Ocean Capacity
Augmented Observing and Forecasting for Marine Life
Global Ocean Monitoring Indicators
The World Ocean Assessment

Townhall - Marine Knowledge at the Fingertips of our Communities: Designing Digital Twins of the Ocean
2025-06-04 - 2025-06-06 | Nice, France
Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTO) presents transformative opportunities for advancing sustainable ocean management.
The townhall, through panel discussions and interaction with diverse stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, and community representatives, will focus on key themes such as:

Sustainable Ocean Management: Participants will examine practical applications of DTOs. A case study will illustrate how DTOs can enhance decision-making by providing visual but science-based, what-if scenarios, enabling stakeholders to better manage fisheries, prevent pollution, or address climate impacts.
Observations, Data Ecosystems and Interoperability: Effective DTOs rely on adequate ocean observations and robust, interconnected data ecosystems. The townhall will discuss the importance of integrating diverse data sources, from satellite observations to citizen science. Addressing the challenge of data interoperability, participants will explore ways to ensure that data from different sources can be harmonized and used across platforms, enabling seamless collaboration between ocean researchers, policymakers, and industries.
DTO Architecture: Technical discussions will cover the core architecture of DTOs, including the development of scalable, modular frameworks that can be adapted to various regions and environmental conditions. Experts will delve into the computational requirements, highlighting innovations in cloud computing and AI that support the development of realistic and accurate DTOs.
Governance, Equity, and Capacity Building: The success of DTOs hinges on effective governance and equitable access to resources. The townhall will examine the frameworks needed to ensure transparent, inclusive governance of ocean data and models. Special attention will be given to equity in the distribution of DTO benefits, emphasizing capacity-building initiatives for developing countries and marginalized communities. Ensuring that all stakeholders—especially those most affected by ocean changes—can access and contribute to DTOs will be critical in promoting global ocean sustainability.

Through this townhall, participants will collaborate on strategies to harness the power of digital twin technology, advancing collective efforts toward healthier, more resilient oceans for future generations.
The townhall is proposed jointly by the European Commission, the DITTO Decade programme and the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative working group.

Marine Knowledge at the Fingertips of our Communities: Designing Digital Twins of the Ocean Townhall at the One Ocean Science Congress
2025-06-04 | Nice, France
Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTO) presents transformative opportunities for advancing sustainable ocean management.
The townhall, through panel discussions and interaction with diverse stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, and community representatives, will focus on key themes such as:

Sustainable Ocean Management: Participants will examine practical applications of DTOs. A case study will illustrate how DTOs can enhance decision-making by providing visual but science-based, what-if scenarios, enabling stakeholders to better manage fisheries, prevent pollution, or address climate impacts.
Observations, Data Ecosystems and Interoperability: Effective DTOs rely on adequate ocean observations and robust, interconnected data ecosystems. The townhall will discuss the importance of integrating diverse data sources, from satellite observations to citizen science. Addressing the challenge of data interoperability, participants will explore ways to ensure that data from different sources can be harmonized and used across platforms, enabling seamless collaboration between ocean researchers, policymakers, and industries.
DTO Architecture: Technical discussions will cover the core architecture of DTOs, including the development of scalable, modular frameworks that can be adapted to various regions and environmental conditions. Experts will delve into the computational requirements, highlighting innovations in cloud computing and AI that support the development of realistic and accurate DTOs.
Governance, Equity, and Capacity Building: The success of DTOs hinges on effective governance and equitable access to resources. The townhall will examine the frameworks needed to ensure transparent, inclusive governance of ocean data and models. Special attention will be given to equity in the distribution of DTO benefits, emphasizing capacity-building initiatives for developing countries and marginalized communities. Ensuring that all stakeholders—especially those most affected by ocean changes—can access and contribute to DTOs will be critical in promoting global ocean sustainability.

Through this townhall, participants will collaborate on strategies to harness the power of digital twin technology, advancing collective efforts toward healthier, more resilient oceans for future generations.
The townhall is proposed jointly by the European Commission, the DITTO Decade programme and the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean working group

G7 FSOI Annual Working Group Meeting
2025-11-19 - 2025-11-20 | Ottawa, Canada
Annual meeting for the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative to discuss progress against agreed-upon actions in 2025, and to agree on priority topics and actions for 2026.
