Data e-Infrastructure Initiative for Fisheries Management and Conservation of Marine Living Resources iMarine

1.12Dissemination and/or exploitation of project results, and management of intellectual property

Dissemination Measures

The table below summarizes the main for iMarine communities, including user communities, the broader multidisciplinary communities, policy makers, press and media.

Stakeholder Beneficiary	Pay-off	Sample of related Dissemination Outputs
User Communities broadly defined	Catering to real-world needs; solving operational challenges, improving quality & scope of current work, leveraging new data sources and more effective ways of processing them. Access to large data sets for sophisticated experimentation while driving scientific excellence.	eTraining courses facilitating usage of the data infrastructure (Virtual Laboratories operation & maintenance; uptake of common interfaces, integrated tools and resources; API exploitation).
Users within the wider landscape	Sharing of experiences and knowledge across Europe and globally. Showcasing success stories.	Channel discussion forums & eTraining; success stories via dissemination outputs and Final Event, among others.
Epistemic communities (stock assessment scientists, socio-economists, biodiversity specialists, fishery managers)	Sharing of specific domain expertise in a multidisciplinary environment to gather priorities, offer feedback and help formulate policy recommendations.	Dedicated activities supporting the iMarine Board, showcasing insights via dissemination outputs.
Data managers & information system (IS) specialists	Sharing knowledge on specific community and technical needs (standard exchange protocols, data security etc).	Dedicated activities supporting the iMarine Board, showcasing insights via dissemination outputs, contributing to technical enhancements.
Policy and Funding Bodies (EC, e-IRG, ESFRI, EU27 ministries), overseas ministries	Prioritizing policy implementation; avoiding duplication of efforts & shaping policy, sustainability and research agendas based on tangible outcomes (Digital Agenda; Innovation Union).	Channel resources and particularly dissemination outputs targeting policy and funding bodies.
Marine & Fisheries research institutes, libraries, documentation and information centres, including those in FAO network	Opportunity to gain insights into an evolving landscape and enrich service provision through focused content delivery based on iMarine outcomes.	Channel resources across the board, including potential to benefit from selected eTraining modules.
Citizens of the European Union	Opportunity to appreciate the role of science in tackling issues of broad, societal interest.	Project outputs targeting society at large, including articles and Mini eBook.
Press and Media (selected by goal)	Coverage of diverse aspects relating to data infrastructure from policy, technology and wider societal perspectives.	Targeted activities defined in regularly updated Plans, leveraging media relations and seeking partnerships for the Final Event.

Impact of targeted dissemination measures: Support of the iMarine Board and the EA-CoP is linked to four main Measures: web-based interaction tools; eTraining facilities; strategic alliances; communication and dissemination activities, including the Virtual (M15) and Final Event (M28).

MEASURE 1: The project will support the iMarine Board with the aim of offering a framework that pools resources with the direct involvement of European scientists, managers and policy makers as frontrunners. NA3-NA4 and Consortium liaison along with strategic alliances at EU level will ensure cross fertilization (ERA-NET, technology and innovation platforms, KBBE initiatives, EUROFISH) underpinned by joint dissemination activities (including outputs such as the eBooks and the Final Event), to increase awareness around the key issues. EXPECTED OUTCOME: Low-cost, low-barrier interactive knowledge exchange to build bridges by weaving together policy and technology policy measures, priorities and ultimately the recommendations necessary to underpin the sustainability-driven governance model. Increased awareness at EU level. MEASURE 2: Facilitating international outreach by leveraging partner networks (FAO, FIN, CRIA) and strategic alliances (e.g. GLOBEFISH) with emphasis on the benefits of international action agendas. EXPECTED OUTCOME: Increased likelihood of counterparts around the globe adopting the policy recommendations; drawing on the data e-infrastructure as a model to form similar locally based ecosystems, if not the iMarine infrastructure. MEASURE 3: iMarine user communities as initial users of the data e-infrastructure ecosystem by facilitating uptake through the eTraining Programme. EXPECTED OUTCOME: End-users benefit from unprecedented computational power and a richer, more sophisticated set of resources and tools, serving as showcases on an international scale with a strong potential to increase the user base and foster scientific excellence and innovation. eTraining offers a concrete opportunity to educate people in multiple areas on a fully automated basis with value-add interactive features, streamlining educational services, lowering costs involved and reducing the time from learning to implementation. This impact is not only key to stepping up EA implementation but also has a clear potential beyond the life-time of iMarine, as well as to shape educational programmes.

Impact of Event, Media Outreach and Strategic Alliances: Dissemination Measures include frequent production of communication and promotional material as defined in the regularly updated Communication, Dissemination and Training Plans (DNA4.1), adjusting action agendas in line with the metric monitoring and outcomes documented in DNA4.5-6 Communication, Dissemination and Training Report. Outputs will cater for diverse target audiences based on re-visited value propositions and core messaging as the project evolves. Specific measures include awareness-raising, stakeholder engagement, attracting new users to the data infrastructure, emphasizing European innovation leadership and international cooperation strengths.

Impact of event attendance: Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and networking and peer-reviewed validation of results, iMarine visibility and potential to increase user communities. Media channels will include but not limited to those shown below.

Strategic alliances: They bring multiple benefits to iMarine outreach, ranging from increasing visibility to knowledge exchange on policy and technological policy priorities, and capacity building.

Strategic Alliances	Opportunities & Value-add
iMarine Board member affiliations (e.g. ICES, IOC-OBIS, NEAFC); ESFRI projects (especially Environmental cluster; PESI, i4Life, LifeWatch); Earth Observation (GENESIS-DEC). Other potential alliances include pertinent ERA-NET initiatives; Technology and Innovation Platforms; initiatives funded under the EC's KBBE initiatives; European and global initiatives (GLOBEFISH, EUROFISH); dissemination and training support initiatives (e.g. eScienceTalk and Scientix).	Knowledge exchange at policy and technology levels; mutual visibility and coverage in Newsletters and back-links on websites; emphasis on European innovation leadership and priorities and the European Innovation Flagship.
Dissemination & Training Initiatives (e.g. eScienceTalk, Scientix, iSkills)	Promoting project goals and outcomes through Briefings, BlogCasts; promoting capacity and competence building through eTraining.
International (GLOBEFISH – FAO; International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET))	Knowledge exchange and promoting international cooperation on key policy issues & recommendations.

The aims and possible outcomes resulting from media outreach and specialized journals are presented below.

Media Channels	Sample: Aims & Expected Outcomes
Popular ICT & Technology Media (e.g. CORDIS News, CERN Bulletin, ERCIM News, Innovations Report, iSGTW, HPC In the Cloud, Supercomputing Online, ZDNet, ACM Communications etc).	Aim: Press releases, general and technology-focused articles & success stories, including potential for infrastructure cost reduction, Final Event promotion & outcomes. Possible outcomes: visibility and delegate recruitment.
Policy Channels (e.g. EurActiv, e-IRG Newsletter, EUObserver, EuropeanVoice.com & European Voice, Europa.eu)	Aim: Promote the expertise and role of the iMarine Board and its outcomes. Possible outcomes: Showcasing policy leadership.
National Press, TV and Radio (e.g. national press associations, national papers, TV & Radio and popular science magazines for younger generation)	Aim: Promoting iMarine to society at large with focus on issues such as sustainable fish sources, impact of man-made & natural disasters, climate change challenges of broad, societal interest. Possible outcomes: communicating the benefits of science to tackle key societal challenges and improvement of citizens’ lives.
Peer-reviewed & specialized conference & journals (e.g. ACM Communications, Marine Policy; Information Systems, etc)	Aim: Dialogue with technical and scientific communities on issues addressed; reporting new research. Possible outcome: results recognition & validation beyond project.

Gauging Impact: Impact will be gauged through metrics defined for core activities with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs, marked *) for those measures deemed key for successful outcomes.

Web-based Metrics

Channel Metrics: minimum 8 new items per month based on editorial & quality assurance. Channel Usage metrics*: unique visitors, page views, returning and new visits, most popular pages, length of stay, bounce rate and country provenance.

Community building: number of registered members* (typology: affiliation, role/position, city, country) compared with targets set in each of the Plans (DNA3.1), including measures to increase visibility through selected social networks (twitter, LinkedIn Focus Groups and Slideshare).

eTraining Metrics: number of eCourse modules, check-lists and assessments delivered and completed compared with numbers set in Plans (DNA3.1). Qualitative measures will be set in synergy with the Advisory Board.

Dissemination Metrics

Strategic Alliances: Number of alliances forged as defined in Plans (DNA3.1) along with the value-add and expected impacts with regard to project goals as they evolve over time and with a balance against tangible opportunities as they arise (“not-always-predictable/not forecast but of value-add”).

Production of communication material: number of eNewsletters, interviews, testimonies, primers as per the Plans (DNA3.1) with a balance against tangible opportunities as they arise (“not-always-predictable/not forecast but of value-add”). eBook production will be delivered mainly in year two and subject to an editorial

Production of promotional activities: number of pop-up banners, fliers, posters as defined by the Plans (DNA3.1)

Event visibility: number of presentations at external event (minimum 5/year), monitoring audience typology,

Press releases: number of releases, including major announcements and event promotion (minimum 2/year)

Articles for ICT & technology press: number of articles produced and published (minimum 2/year)

Articles for peer-reviewed/specialized journals: number of articles submitted and published (minimum 2 over project life-time

Exploitation of Project Results

The Box below summarizes the main benefits and exploitation plans resulting from iMarine project participation.

Technological Partners: CNR, NKUA, E-IIS, US, CERN, Terradue Delivery of software & components as sub-products exploitable outside & beyond iMarine Leveraging experimentation with emerging technologies (e.g. Cloud computing), new programming toolkits & frameworks Leveraging external, multidisciplinary knowledge acquisition Pursuing discovery, catalogue and fast geographical data access domains.

Educational Partners: NKUA, US, Trust-IT Training of students in applied ICT technologies & collaborative environments Shaping educational agendas, e.g. topics for Diploma & PhD theses Communicating expertise in sibling domains for cross-domain eTraining course & tool development & continued support to cross-disciplinary groups

Academic & Research Partners: CNR, IRD, NKUA, US, Publications resulting from iMarine developments Leveraging experimentation on emerging technologies, specifications, e-Infrastructure interoperability Enhancing future e-Infrastructure development Pursuing further goals of investigating various novel techniques for semantic data management.

Industry Partners: E-IIS, Trust-IT Leveraging and extending technologies developed Delivery of high-quality state-of-the-art products & services Identifying new markets & business models, boosting new business exploitation

EU Consortia & International Organizations: CERN, ERCIM, UNESCO Extending expertise in managing large scale distributed infrastructures Exploiting new data transfer and monitoring and accounting services Future cooperation for Excellence in Research

User Communities: FAO, CRIA, FIN Enhanced support the EAF Community & new solutions for sustainability Leveraging improvements to the provision of data and services Exploiting interoperability standards

Management of Intellectual Property

Dissemination and exploitation of iMarine is based to a large extent to the openness of the results. The fewer restrictions apply the greater degree of exploitation will be possible. The latter applies to a substantial degree of software produced by the project, which will be mostly delivered under an Open Source Licence (EUPL being the most suitable), unless an infringement of IPRs and/or violation other explicit/implicit IPR ownerships occurs. Exploiting or delivering commercial or proprietary licensed software products for the needs of the project is not excluded, if such a need arises or seems appropriate. However knowledge and technology developed as part of the project will flow freely among the partners that implement and exploit the system as part of their contractual obligations. In general, tools, methodology documents, benchmarks, case studies etc. will be available to all unless otherwise dictated in special cases. The above will be clearly described in the project’s Consortium Agreement, necessary under the FP7 regime, which will include any sensitive issues of IPR, and the structure and organization of the project, including specific IPR directives to be applied among the participants and their affiliates, in compliance with the general arrangements stipulated in the contract, such as:

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  The specific management of IPR regarding knowledge held by Universities or other academic/public participant;
  
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  The exclusion of background and the rights of the other parties to know of such limitation;
  
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  The possibility of agreeing upon an economic access rights regime regarding access to background.
  

The Consortium Agreement will address: ownership and transfer of ownership of knowledge, protection of knowledge, use and dissemination of knowledge and access rights to knowledge. Any patents applied that are related to knowledge developed in the project will be communicated to all partners and to the Commission-funded IPR.

The knowledge produced throughout the duration of the project will be organized, stored and disseminated. The overall management, storage and internal dissemination of knowledge will be the responsibility of the Project Manager, while work package leaders will be responsible for communicating knowledge produced for the work packages or specific tasks undertaken. The knowledge produced within the scope of the project can be grouped in three main categories:

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  “knowledge products” (deliverables, reports, minutes of meetings etc.)
  
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  Technology portfolio
  
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  “supportive knowledge material” i.e. material that is required for the production of knowledge products (such as background material, state-of-the-art material, etc.).
  

Effort will be placed in minimizing the restrictions in accessing the data hosted in and exploited by the services of the system, however, it is apparent that strict policies do apply to several data sets and services that serve them to the community and iMarine will have to preserve these policies. For handling these datasets, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) may be signed among the producers/owners/managers of the data sets and services and the Consortium of iMarine. A selection involved are listed here:

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  Source sources related to aquatic species: NeOn Lifecycle for Networked Ontologies, Census of Marine Life (CoML), Ocean Biogeographic Information System Database, World Register of Marine Species, FishBase, ReefBase;
  
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  Large fisheries’ related resources such as Global Ocean Observing System oceanographic datasets, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data repositories of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), the global database of world marine protected areas (MPA Global), UN statistics, including the UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade), FAOSTAT, ASFA Abstracts, AGROVOC;
  
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  The GENESI-DEC digital repositories for Earth scientists, gathered by several operation Earth Observation Centers;
  
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  The hundreds of external repositories such as DRIVER and OpenAIRE hosted repositories.
  

Deployment over a distributed system such as the data e-Infrastructure delivered by iMarine can potentially end up delivering assets (software and data) beyond the scope of access policies. On the other hand, despite the fact that the raw or source data might be subject to access restrictions, the knowledge produced by their processing, via tools offered within and around iMarine data e-Infrastructure, may become public. Thus safeguarding the infrastructure’s payload (software and content) shall be considered on a per-case basis. Technology and specifications will have to complement and support such complex scenarios and the agreements in place, as the latter ones will be established.