COLUMBUS has been designed to efficiently manage knowledge and carry out Knowledge Transfer resulting in measurable uptake and application.
Initially, under Work Package 3, the project will carry out a process to identify knowledge needs from an end-user's perspective so that all activities are focused on knowledge that has high potential to be impactful, if identified and transferred. This information will feed into the "Knowledge Transfer cycle" of the process-driven Work Packages: Work Package 4 "Identify and Collect", Work Package 5 "Analysis" and Work Package 6 "Knowledge Transfer". These which will run over three overlapping cycles during the project timeframe and will be focused on different subjects/sectors termed Competence Nodes.
The core element of COLUMBUS’s approach is to operate a network of Competence Nodes across Europe, consisting of Knowledge Fellows with a support team, who together cover all of Europe’s sea basins and their marine and maritime activities. Their task is to carry out Knowledge Transfer; specifically to accelerate and strengthen the adoption of discovered research knowledge that will impact on society and our daily lives.
COLUMBUS will establish a “Knowledge Fellowship”, a network of nine full-time Knowledge Transfer Fellows whose role will be to carry out Knowledge Transfer using a methodology based on the needs prioritised early in the project. Working together as a team and active network, this combined critical mass will provide a multiplier effect to help achieve measurable impacts and to develop a blueprint for future activities in this field of work, ultimately contributing to the development of a thriving and sustainable marine and maritime economy. These fellows will work across nine Competence Nodes, each with a specific focus area: Aquaculture; Fisheries; Monitoring and Observation; Marine Biological Resources; Maritime Transport and Logistics; Marine Physical Resources; Maritime Tourism; Marine Governance and Management; and, Marine Environment and Futures.
Capacity Building and Legacy
Work Package 2 "Methodology" will establish a network of the Knowledge Transfer Fellows to work as a peer group during the implementation of the project. It is expected that they will interact on a regular basis, sharing experiences and working as a team. Training on methodologies will be provided for each step of the process. Specific actions in Work Packages 2, 7 and 8 are planned to ensure that upskilling is provided to both the partners and also the wider community. Furthermore, efforts to recognise the competence and standardise the process will be explored, all with the intention to leave a lasting legacy.
Regional Dimension – European Sea Basins
The maritime policy promotes growth and development strategies that exploit the strengths and address the weaknesses of each large sea region in the EU. The partnership has expert coverage in all basins. Furthermore, in recognising the varying needs of European sea regions (Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean), COLUMBUS will pay special attention to the regional dimension. In Work Package 2, external training is planned in each region for regional participants. In Work Package 3, as part of the analysis it will look at regional specificities. In Work Package 4, knowledge will be tagged based on its relevancy to the different sea basins. In Work Package 5, knowledge will be analysed for its applicability to regions and, finally, in Work Package 6, partners based in those regions will provide support for any Knowledge Transfer activities taking place in those areas.
