We can learn a lot from marine systems, when we understand them and their behavior in a more comprehensive way. Marine ecosystems are complex and interact efficiently.  Bio-intelligence helps us to find solutions to the challenges of our complex world. This applies for areas such as digitization as well as areas of  economic, social and political systems. But how can marine systems be analyzed and thoroughly understood? Which technical solutions are necessary for this? What do we already know and how can we build on it? What can be transferred?

The transport of people and goods by sea is considered to be an environmentally friendly alternative to other modes of transport (especially when compared to air and road transport). Nevertheless, shipping faces major challenges: shipping needs to take steps to become a carbon-neutral way of transportation. Emissions need to be reduced and alternative fuels considered. Sustainable materials, new recycling systems for old materials should be developed. The opportunities of digitization will make shipping safer and cheaper. In the area of high-performance sailing, systems for automatic navigation and control systems combined with intelligent sensors can be developed and implemented.

Global climate change is causing sea levels to rise. Two challenges emerge: on the one hand, we need to find solutions to mitigate climate change and thus sea level rise. However, human caused climate change and thus the rise of sea level can no longer be completely stopped. Therefore, adaptation measures represent a further challenge. How can it be possible to live and work in coastal areas and on islands in the future?

Energy is one of our most important resources. We need energy to operate industries, to scale digitization, to satisfy our desire for mobility and not to freeze in winter. The fossil energy sources currently used are finite. We need to develop sustainable energy sources and find ways of activly removing carbon from the atmosphere. The sea already offers opportunities to produce regenerative energies such as wind, wave or tidal energy. The oceans also offer plenty of opportunities to emerge new technologies for additional carbon capture.

The sea has always been a supplier of food. Fish and seafood are an important part of the diet. However, this fact has led to overfishing of the seas. We need solutions for the sustainable use of the oceans for food supply. Algae, seagrass, jellyfish and other marine resources can be used to feed the population. In Germany/ Europe, the use of these resources for nutrition is still in early stages of development. What additional opportunities can be found to feed a growing world population in a sustainable and balanced way?

Marine resources such as seaweed, algae, sponges or animal extracts from snails, mussels, jellyfish or fish offer a wide range of applications in the fields of cosmetics and pharmacy. Manufacturing of materials for packaging, furniture or insulation can be supplemented or fully be replaced by biomaterials from the oceans. However, the properties of marine resources are far from being fully explored. There are still many opportunities in this area to find sustainable solutions to numerous everyday challenges.