BioDiMoBot at the European Ocean Days 2026

Our partner SYRION (Werner Rom) represented the BioDiMoBot project at the European Ocean Days 2026, held in Brussels from 2-6 March. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, industry, investors, and civil society to advance a sustainable, competitive, and secure ocean economy. The event was structured as a week of interconnected sessions addressing key themes such as Blue Careers and the Blue Economy, future strategies and visions for ocean research and innovation, in fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities. A major highlight was the announcement of OceanEye by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission- an ambitious initiative to improve ocean data, climate impact prediction, maritime security, and innovation, and to help deliver a fully operational European ocean observation system by 2030.

Complementing the main programme, the 4th Annual Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” Forum (5 March) showcased concrete solutions and marked the Mission’s shift from research to deployment. In parallel, BlueInvest Day 2026 focused on mobilizing private

investment through investor networking, startup pitches, and targeted deal-making. Together, these activities underlined a coherent EU strategy linking advanced ocean observation, mission-driven innovation, and dedicated investment instruments to accelerate the transition toward a resilient and sustainable blue economy.

Photo credit: Werner Rom (SYRION)

BioDiMoBot’s participation enabled a significant expansion of its stakeholder network, raised awareness of its autonomous robotic monitoring system for aquatic environments. Werner Rom (SYRION) engaged in intensive exchanges with representatives from the European Commission and key European associations in aquaculture, mussel farming and offshore wind energy, among others. The European Digital Ocean Twin, a dynamic, open-source virtual replica of the ocean, could also notably benefit from BioDiMoBot-system-generated biological and abiotic data. Discussions with representatives of the European Investment Bank further explored pathways for scaling deployment and supporting market uptake of such monitoring solutions.

BioDiMoBot aims to continue its engagement at the next European Ocean Days, expected in Brussels in early March 2027, with a particular focus on participation in BlueInvest Day 2027 to showcase its autonomous robotic solution for biodiversity monitoring in aquatic environments.

Written by: Dr. Werner Rom