PLOCAN takes over coordination of EU funded projects GRRIP and MUSICA
By Graham on October 7, 2021 in Press Release
The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has been confirmed as the new coordinator of two leading European research projects.
MUSICA (Multiple-use-of Space for Island Clean Autonomy) and GRRIP (Grounding RRI Practices in Research Performing Organisations in Marine and Maritime) are both funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.
In assuming the new coordinator role PLOCAN will be required to guide the projects through their respective periodic review processes to ensure they meet the requirements set out in the European Commission’s Grant Agreements. MUSICA has recently entered the second of its five phases, with GRRIP entering its third and final reporting period.
In addition to the new coordinator role at the MUSICA project, PLOCAN are leading the testing, monitoring, operation and maintenance of the multi-use platform on Oinnouses. PLOCAN will also contribute to the replicability plans and feasibility studies of the solution on Gran Canaria Island (Spain).
PLOCAN is also one of five Marine and Maritime (M&M) research performing organisations (RPO) in GRRIP. The aim of GRRIP is to embed Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) in their governance frameworks, structures and cultures.
Dr Ayoze Castro, Head of the Innovation Unit at PLOCAN said, “We are immensely proud and excited to be taking on the role of coordinator for these two important and ambitious projects. MUSICA will represent one of the very first multipurpose offshore platforms in Europe. We fully believe that MUSICA is the logical follow-on from previous MUP projects and is the best route to commercialisation of the MUP/ MUS concept, balancing operator and investor risk, and acceleration of progress.
“With regards to GRRIP, we are of the opinion that this project represents a key milestone in the development of Responsible Research and Innovation in the fields of Marine Sciences. While there has been significant work done on the concept of RRI by EU projects over the past 20 years, many of the projects relating to institutional change for RPO&RFOs have typically focused on one of the five keys individually. GRRIP’s emphasis on the aim of grounding RRI practices in the RPO&RFOs themselves as part of an integrated approach makes it a unique and important project.”
Dr Gordon Dalton, from Ireland, has taken up the post of coordinator for the two projects. Dr Dalton brings with him the expertise of past coordination of two previous Horizon 2020 projects. Speaking on his new post, Dr Dalton, says, “I am very excited to take up the coordinator role for these two projects, and I’m keen to maximize the exploitation opportunities for PLOCAN and the Canary Island.
“I am determined to build and deploy multi-use platform technology in Gran Canaria, bringing construction and installation jobs for the region. Multiuse platforms will advance the Canary islands journey in sustainability, bringing green electricity and fresh water to the islands. The principles from the GRRIP project will ensure that exploitation of the MUSICA project will be both responsible and innovative for the Canary Islands.”
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About PLOCAN
The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is a multipurpose service centre with land-based and novel sea-based infrastructures to support research, technology development and innovation in the marine and maritime sectors. Its mission is to promote long-term observation and sustainability of the ocean, providing a cost-effective combination of services, such as an ocean observatory, a marine test site, a base for underwater vehicles, training and an innovation hub.
PLOCAN is a joint initiative of the Spanish and the Canary Islands governments, with the contribution of the European Regional Development Fund, and is included in the Spanish Map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS). PLOCAN is configured as a Test Site where projects focused on testing and demonstrating maritime technologies so contributing to increase their technology readiness level (TRL) and speeding up market uptake.
PLOCAN’s staff and management team have both an extensive experience in the preparation, implementation, and management of large projects in the marine and maritime sectors. Since 2009 they have participated in more than 90 national and EU funded projects both as coordinators and partners.
About GRRIP
The GRRIP Project (Grant Agreements 820283) is committed to creating a sustainable, growing and proactive marine and maritime RRI community. GRRIP will embed sustainable RRI practices in 4 research performing organisations (RPO) and 1 dual-function RPO and research funding organisation (RPO/RFO) (total 5 RPO & RFO) in the marine and maritime sectors to achieve institutional and cultural change.
The project has 5 case studies in five countries: PLOCAN (Las Palmas, Canary Islands), MaREI (Cork, Ireland), Swansea University (Swansea, Wales, UK), WavEC (Lisbon, Portugal) and Centrale Nantes (Nantes, France).
About MUSICA
The MUSICA project (Grant Agreements 862252) aims to create a one-stop trial solution to address the energy problems faced by many islands and coastal regions. MUSICA’s Multi-Use Platform will reduce the need for importing expensive and harmful fossil fuels by harnessing the available renewable energy resources of the sun, wind and waves to produce an autonomous, readily available supply of electricity and fresh water.
MUSICA is a consortium comprised of 15 partner organisations; University College Cork (Coordinator), Heriot-Watt University, University of the Aegean, Municipality of Chios, University of Malta, Coral Ltd, International Consortium of Research Staff Associations, Network of Sustainable Greek Islands, Platforma Oceania de Canarias, Innosea, Aquabiotech Ltd, NeoDyne Ltd, SinnPower Gmbh, INSB Class International Classification Society, Forkys
For more information:
Contact: Graham Lynch, GRRIP / MUSICA Dissemination & Communications Officer
Email: grahamlynch@ucc.ie
