In the last instalment of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance interview campaign, we dive deeper into its past and future endeavours.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) is an ocean science diplomacy initiative uniting countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in contributing to the science needed to support ocean policy, governance and management on domestic, regional and international scales in the Atlantic region. The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) formally began in 2013 with the signing of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, where the European Union, Canada and the United States of America came together. 13 years have gone by since then, and, building on the 2017 Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation and on the 2022 All-Atlantic Declaration, the Alliance has continued to grow into an All-Atlantic Community.
The Alliance has been implemented through many ongoing bottom-up initiatives and projects, bringing together many research teams along and across the Atlantic Ocean. The European Union has funded three Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs) – AORA, AANCHOR and OKEANO – to support the implementation of this ongoing work across and along the Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Niall McDonough, coordinator of OKEANO, the latest CSA supporting the Alliance, has shared his insights and highlighted the importance of the All-Atlantic Community. As stated by Niall, the Alliance has allowed for ‘relationships to be built, friendships to be made and professional connections to be developed’. Despite the enormous challenge of bringing people together from all over the Atlantic, the yearly AAORIA Fora are an essential event, allowing for meaningful exchanges between the All-Atlantic community.
From a science-policy perspective, AAORIA also showcases how different communities come together to address critical topics such as climate change and sea level rise. The All-Atlantic Beacon Sites Network is the perfect example: launched during the 2025 AAORIA Forum, it now represents 27 sites where different stakeholders can come together and discuss how to overcome pressing ocean challenges.
The most recent AAORIA Fora also brought together many Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) to participate in one of the main activities supported by OKEANO: the Intergenerational Dialogue and then the Intergenerational Hackathon. These events are a success story, showcasing how ECOPs and their mentors get together to learn from each other and propose innovative solutions aligned with the Forum’s thematic priorities. This collaboration allows for innovative ideas to flourish with guidance and expertise, it brings forward initiatives free of constraints, showcasing the importance of intergenerational cooperation.
Reflecting on the past of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, we invite you to join its future and become part of our community.
