How can the private sector contribute the Ocean Decade?
In this second installment of the fall semester 2025/26 of our TwinPolitics Ocean Seminar Series on Wednesday, 19th November 2025, from 17:00 to 18:30 (CET) our guest speaker, Peter Burger, will talk about the Unlocking Private Sector Data for Ocean Science: Delivering on the Vision of the Ocean Decade
About the speaker
Peter Burger has been seconded by Fugro, the world’s leading geo-data company, to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCOUNESCO-IOC in Paris, where, among other tasks, he supports the UN Ocean Decade to improve access to private-sector ocean data.
He is coordinating the Corporate Data Group, established by Fugro and UNESCO-IOC, which comprises leaders from private sector companies representing a wide variety of marine industries. This working group focuses on developing strategies and guidelines to unlock to the vast reservoir of privately held ocean data so it can support science, inform policy, and drive sustainable development.
Introduction to the Topic
The health of the ocean is critical to the well-being of the planet, influencing climate regulation, oxygen production, and the livelihoods of billions of people. Despite the importance of ocean science, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the world’s oceans, hindering sustainable ocean governance. This presentation will explore the role of the private sector in ocean data sharing, It highlights the need for private sector engagement in unlocking valuable ocean data, the benefits of data sharing such as data for decision making and ocean management, and the challenges that must be overcome to access privately held ocean data. By enhancing greater collaboration between the private sector and scientific community, this effort supports the broader goals of the United Nation Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 14 in promoting sustainable ocean stewardship.
Suggested Reading Materials
- https://oceandecade.org/publications/advancing-ocean-data-sharing-for-sustainable-development-in-areas-within-national-jurisdiction/
- https://oceandecade.org/publications/harnessing-private-sector-data-for-the-ocean-decade-challenges-and-solutions/
Join Us!
📌 Register here: https://mailchi.mp/ed2568d2b8dd/ocean-seminar-lecture-series
📌 More information: https://twinpolitics.eu/
Join this meeting here: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/99285323883?pwd=AHeRoirViwMLGkXcFJFuDDppe02FEb.1https://zoom.us/j/95479873069?pwd=ztYDWEdIZh4Du9n5JyUGtu8R3qipRP.1
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Alice Vadrot – TwinPolitics Principal investigator, University of Vienna – alice.vadrot@univie.ac.at
Seminar Organiser – The TwinPolitics Team, University of Vienna – twinpolitics.erc.powi@univie.ac.at
This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 101124903 – TwinPolitics – ERC-2024-STG). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
