Join us at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference through two key activities:

• An exclusive side event organised by the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) and the Environmental Politics Research Group at the University of Vienna. This event will explore how Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTO) are shaping the future of global marine governance.

• A poster presentation by EMBRC’s scientific officer, Alice Soccodato, at the One Ocean Conference (3–6 June), showcasing how EMO BON is addressing critical gaps in biological observation and presenting key project results.

As digital technologies and big data redefine how we understand and manage the ocean, Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs) are emerging as powerful tools that turn real-time ocean observations into predictive decision-making instruments for science, policy, and industry.

This event offers an interdisciplinary deep dive into the full DTO value chain—from data collection and standardisation to modelling and real-world application in international negotiations.

In the context of rising momentum around SDG 14 and global agreements such as the BBNJ Treaty, CBD, the Global Plastics Treaty, and debates on deep-sea mining, this panel discusses the crucial question: : How can we design DTOs that are not only technologically and scientifically robust, but also equitable, inclusive, and truly global in scope?

A dynamic panel discussion with experts from science, policy, data infrastructure, and social science. This event brings together those working across the DTO ecosystem to explore:

• The role of DTOs in marine biodiversity governance

• How DTOs can support both public and private sector decision-making

• Emerging technologies for ocean modelling and data visualisation

• Equity, access, and global inclusion in ocean data infrastructure

• How to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities in international marine policy

Europe hosts many marine biodiversity monitoring efforts, but they often lack coordination. EMO BON, led by EMBRC-ERIC, connects 19 marine stations across 10 countries through a unified, long-term genomic observation network. By applying shared standards and cutting-edge omics technologies, EMO BON generates high-quality biodiversity data to support both science and policy.

EMBRC’s scientific officer, Alice Soccodato, will present a poster—co-authored with Ioulia Soukaras and Christina Pavloudi—highlighting how EMO BON is addressing key gaps in biological observation and sharing some of the project’s early results.

Visit the poster to discover how this growing network is advancing marine monitoring, explore insights from over 700 samples, and learn how EMO BON contributes to global biodiversity goals.