Objectives

To generate the tools required by the sector to achieve the goals of bridging the gap, either by self-learning, or by providing extension workers the means to present the results of research projects through an intuitive and interactive Internet tool on the EUROSHELL site:

- To map the sector - identifying production zones and major species within key European mollusc producing countries and linking these to research infrastructure, major research and technological development and innovation (RDTI) themes and principal research competences.

- To produce a research roadmap linking vision to core objectives and research needs and gaps.

Description of work and role of partners

The WP is led by IFREMER in association with the Industry and RTD members of the consortium and the coordinator. It is well known that geographic information systems allow a presentation and assistance to the decision making. Whether to locate a scientific or professional partner, to view the geographic scale of a research program and its applications in the field, to put in perspective the different axes of a vision and strategy of implementation in real time, such tools are modern and practical. EUROSHELL will therefore work to combine existing information by coordinating the various formats and producing the missing information to give the means to extension workers to present research programs and their partners, their results and the work in progress.

The baseline for this mapping exercise is to combine graphically what exists, what is done, what has to be done and what is going on to bridge the gaps in the continuous path of knowledge (from empirical knowledge to research) and in the path of man (from consumer to scientist).

For a logical implementation of the work, the work package is organized in 2 tasks :

T4.1: Mapping the sector:

The baseline for this mapping exercise will be the identification of the European, national and regional structures/institutions which deal with shellfish production, shellfish distribution, shellfish certification and linking these to centres or networks of science – research, science - knowledge transfer and science – education.
 Each structure will be listed and mapped and their objectives, competences, partners, etc. will be summarized according to the thematic areas defined in WP3 and accordingly to the template defined in WP2. The links between the different structures (within the production sector, within the research community and between the two) will also be documented, so as to show comparison between countries.
 An analysis of the mapping will help to define the gaps. Data will be collected by questionnaires to the different partners of the project (producers and RTD organizations, all partners except partner 15). Possible existing GIS-shapes will be collected by the WP leader (partner 9), especially regard the production areas. Alternatively, printed map will be sent to partners so that they draw the production areas, first step before the conception of the complete map into a GIS. A work will also conducted in connection with one of the results of the BIVALIFE project which aims to develop a standardized mortality reporting model. In this environment it is important that the impacted areas are correctly identified and coded. It is also planned to involve the DG MARE in the preparatory work of this step, so that maps products can be view on the Internet atlas of marine fisheries and aquaculture.
 Concerning academic research results, a first approach of scientific production by thematic areas and countries will be done by using the Web of Science and Web of Knowledge.
 An overview of grey literature will be done and classified by topics, producers and languages. The final map will be produced in a format that will allow it to be incorporated into the European Atlas of the Seas.

T4.2: A visual roadmap of research

 In a strong relationship with the EDC members (partners 1, 2, 3, 9, 13), the leader (partner 9) will propose a graphical approach for a roadmap of Research that can be easily displayed on the website. It is based on the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the EATIP, that supports the vision for the development of the sector to a series of prioritized core objectives and the research (under different Thematic Areas) linked to current knowledge and future needs. Each theme of the vision will be a layer; each layer may be displayed independently or with other by simultaneously overlapping. This will allow showing additional nesting and horizontal issues of the various axes between them.
 The roadmap will be set up in order to link graphically the database build up in WP2 with inputs of WP3 (past and on-going research and associated knowledge). Graphical user interface will be provided to display what is needed, what is done and what has to be done (bridging the gap). User will have a choice defining different criteria he want to display with checkboxes, radio button or menu, so that different profile and various needs of users can be taken into account. This road map will be drafted following the methodology in WP2 and will form the basis for the in-depth validation during the regional consultation workshops in work package 5.
 The visual format of the strategic research agenda will also be able to show a timescale of implementation that identifies progress over time. However, during the period of the Euroshell project itself, only a certain level of implementation can realistically be shown. Each step will be formalized by a label on the interactive maps; each over label will display a synthesis of data from of the work done in WP3. A link will allow the reference the detailed model developed in WP3 then a download of documents in relation to another project (AQUAINNOVA, MarineTT, and BIVALIFE).