The impacts of european framework transnational access programmes in supporting the development and sustainability of marine research infrastructures: the case of smartbay

Abstract

Transnational Access (TA) programmes play a pivotal role in the de- velopment of marine infrastructure testbeds, such as SmartBay in Galway, Ireland. These programmes enable researchers, technol- ogists, and innovators from across Europe to access state-of-the- art facilities and expertise, fostering collaborative advancements in marine science and technology. SmartBay, Ireland’s leading ma- rine technology test bed, exemplifies how TA initiatives contribute to enhancing research capabilities, promoting innovation, and ad- dressing societal challenges in marine and coastal environments. The impacts and outputs of transnational access programmes supported by Jerico-RI from 2016-2024 are considered in terms of supporting the sustainability of marine technology infrastructures as well as leading to enhanced involvement of industry users in research testbeds. The increasing cooperation and interaction of Smartbay with other Marine Research Infrastructures as part of the Transnational Access ecosystem is also highlighted.