9th annual SUBnet members assembly took place in Kiel, Germany on 25 Sept. '18

27 representatives from 17 member organisations joined us at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel for a full day members assembly.

The focus of the assembly was dual. Firstly, we discussed the new INTERREG BSR Blue Platform project and specifically the associated knowledge transfer and dissemination activities that will benefit the whole blue bioeconomy community, not just the project partners.

The Blue Platform will capitalize on the outputs of complementary transnational projects. The project aims to improve the framework conditions and to increase the capacity of public authorities and practitioners for advancing the blue bioeconomy in the BSR. The project will start on 1. October and it will last for 3 years. 

Secondly, we discussed how to further develop the SUBMARINER services. 

Notably, the day started with a visit to the GEOMAR department for Technology and Logistics (TLZ). During an exclusive tour organised by Dr. Andreas Villwock, head of communications at the GEOMAR, we walked through the facilities where rocks and sediment samples are stored. We saw various impressive ROVs, underwater drones and other robotics, applied for mapping, sampling as well as geochemical and biological research analysis. 

Members networking that has a strategic importance throughout the assembly sessions continued at the fabulous evening dinner restaurant over the Kiel fjord.