1. 1
+atlantican international agenda to foster new innovation dynamics and technology-based products and
services oriented towards the sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic:
Observation Systems; Subsea Technologies; Surface Technologies; Port Technologies and Systems
Promoted through the:
OIPG: International Observatory - Global Policies for the Sustainable Exploration of the Atlantic
http://www.oipg.org/
Executive summary
This initiative aims to stimulate an international agenda for scientific, technological and industrial
development for the sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic, emphasizing four main technical areas,
namely Observation Systems, Subsea Technologies, Surface Technologies, and Port Technologies and
Systems, together with a comprehensive set of horizontal programs promoting international risk
governance initiatives and the capacity building of Atlantic regions.
It is intended to stimulate qualified employment and investment in knowledge and R&D in Atlantic
regions, promoting their endogenous growth and facilitating new opportunities for industrial
development based on new technologies and systems for global markets. It includes the identification
and promotion of specific regional/local agendas, while supporting an emerging centrality of the
Atlantic.
Framing the issue
It is estimated that the South Atlantic will have a marked evolution in the coming decades as a result
of three recent developments: the discovery of important hydrocarbon resources in its American and
African margins; the expected opening of the Panama and Nicaragua channels and the strengthening
of north-south shipping; the dynamics of port cities in the South Atlantic that serve these activities.
The development of specific technology and systems for the exploration of hydrocarbons in the South
Atlantic, along with the growing challenges associated with the development of oil and natural gas
prices, the strengthening of maritime transport North-South, the development of port activity and
related shipbuilding and repair and the increased need for monitoring and risk governance in the
Atlantic, bring an added opportunity for the countries that surround the Atlantic, which requires a
strategic and integrated approach at international level.
Also the expansion of the exclusive economic zones in some of those countries, including Portugal,
makes demands and opportunities with some degree of similarity that they too should be analyzed
strategically in an integrated manner. The aim is to appreciate the need to "occupy" these exclusive
economic zones, developing technologies and systems that stimulate the sustainable development of
Atlantic. This development view is shared by a community of organizations and led to the
establishment of the International Observatory - Global Policy for Sustainable Development of the
Atlantic (OIPG; http://www.oipg.org/), with founding institutions in Brazil, Colombia, Portugal and
Germany, but with the possibility of extend to other countries (including the United States, Norway,
Angola).

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The International Observatory, OIPG
OIPG is an international consortium oriented towards the sustainable development of the Atlantic
and aimed to predict and evaluate, in cooperation, risks, opportunities and emerging challenges, with
the effective contribution of industry, academics, regulators, decision makers and other experts,
based on a multi-institutional network and industry-science relationships. This effort is taking the
form of a new agenda of international scientific and technological cooperation and long-term
industrial development, "+atlantic", and including joint actions to foster training of human resources.
It should be reviewed every five years, in association with several regional/local poles.
Each of the poles should develop, in close coordination and international cooperation, their own
agenda “+ Atlantic”, establishing appropriate partnerships to facilitate the training of human
resources, the development of engineering and technology, new products and new services for the
sustainable development of the Atlantic. The OIPG is coordinated by representatives of the regional
centers and will promote a Forum N3, “New Business, New Technologies and New Jobs for the
Sustainable Exploration of the Atlantic”, in conjunction with an annual international conference
where development trends and opportunities will be discussed.
The OIPG will give priority to the identification and analysis of opportunities for market and
regulatory conditions in South Atlantic and Sub-Saharan African regions, adopting new technologies
and/or synergies with other industrial sectors, and promoting, simultaneously, the sustainable
development of the Atlantic and Southern regions. For this purpose, research will be oriented to
analyse the emerging opportunities for the sector supply chains, including observation systems (e.g.,
nano-satellites), subsea technologies (e.g. submarine drilling, marine robotic systems, and processing
units), construction of new and specialized platforms and support vessels, as well as strategies to
minimize health, safety and environmental risks across all elements of these systems. The analysis will
include the development of energy generation networks, integrating (offshore) renewable energy
sources in offshore oil and gas infrastructures, including subsea energy supply.
In addition to the analysis focused on the Atlantic and southern regions, the work will seek insight
from comparative studies of the sector development in other regions in the last decades, especially in
the North Sea (i.e., Norway and Scotland), integrating technology innovation and development of
related value-chains. The progress of the North Sea Oil and Gas sector in the coming years will be also
considered including the potential for the creation and development of new technology-based
industries and firms, together with skilled employment. New ways for international companies soft-
landing will be studied for generating knowledge flows between these companies.
The international Agenda “+atlantic”
This agenda consists in an engineering and innovation program structured by a set of technology
platforms that deal with particular areas of engineering, technology and innovation and their
industrial exploitation and a number of “horizontal” programs to these technological areas to foster
adequate and responsible training tools, internationalization schemes, promotion and dissemination
initiatives.
The agenda “+atlantic” thus includes a very specific strategic goal of technological and industrial
development, encouraging qualified employment and investment in knowledge, engineering and
technology in Atlantic regions through three strategic tools:
 Attract and secure qualified human resources in Atlantic regions, stimulating qualified
employment in engineering and research and development;
 Attract and increase public and private investment in R&D in those regions, promoting
technological and industrial developments towards the sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic;
 Promote international cooperation between an extensive network of engineers and technologists
working in the observation, monitoring and surveillance activities, energy and living resources, as
well as the sustainable exploitation of the oceans.
The Agenda in Portugal: “+atlantic.pt”
The Portuguese Pole of OIPG is promoted by a consortium based in CEIIA in Matosinhos, including the
Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, LARSYS, through the Center for Innovation,

3. 3
Technology and Policy Research, IN+, and WavEC Offshore Renewables, but open to other partners
and public and private participating institutions. It will focus its attention on the promotion of a set of
actions for the promotion of engineering, technology and innovation and its industrial exploitation
within the scope of the Portuguese continental shelf and internationalization opportunities associated
with the agendas of the other partners of OIPG.
Funding sources are expected to be obtained through competitive programs, including: i) European
Structural Funds (i.e., Portugal 2020); ii) Horizon 2020 of the European Commission; iii) ESA, European
Space Agency; iv) NATO, "Science for Security"; v) EEA Grants, as well as private funding. A number of
key strategic challenges have been identified, with a view to raising awareness of the Agenda
“+atlantic.pt” and introducing specific measures aimed at developing a portfolio of projects and,
where applicable, the allocation of funds for specific actions to support the program.
A platform approach has been considered through four Technology Platforms that derived from an
in-depth study about current ocean technology related markets and a cross matching between
identified opportunities and challenges with current and prospective national technological
competences, as follows:
 TP1. Observation Systems: Ocean Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
Challenge 1.1: Low-cost multi-use buoys
Challenge 1.2: Integrated computational models for better oceanic behaviour prediction
Challenge 1.3: Seamless integration of networked autonomous platforms for ocean monitoring
and surveillance
Challenge 1.4: Image processing algorithms to control and improve fishing activities
Challenge 1.5: Miniaturised satellites for advanced low cost monitoring capabilities
Challenge 1.6: Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV)
for long standing monitoring capability
Challenge 1.7: Maritime Common Information Sharing Environments
 TP2. Ocean Subsea Technologies
Challenge 2.1: Landers for deep sea long term monitoring and exploration capabilities
Challenge 2.2: Cooperative robotic systems for seabed mapping
Challenge 2.3: Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle (AUV) for deep sea operations
Challenge 2.4: Advanced mooring ropes for ocean exploitation new challenges
Challenge 2.5: CFD novel numerical analysis applications to the subsea industry
Challenge 2.6: SURF, “Submarine Umbilicals, Risers and Flow lines”, including structural integrity
monitoring and inspection novel solutions
Challenge 2.7: SURF equipment in-situ inspection based on GMR technology
Challenge 2.8: Big Data Analytics for Monitoring Data Integration and Statistical Handling
 TP3. Ocean Surface Technologies
Challenge 3.1: Design and construction of fixed deep-water foundations for offshore wind with
structural integrated Condition Maintenance Systems
Challenge 3.2: Design, construction and testing of innovative wave energy converter
Challenge 3.3: Offshore Platform to serve as a test bench for WEC devices
Challenge 3.4: Design and construction of Plataform Support Vessels, PSV, to assist offshore
fieldwork
Challenge 3.5: Innovative automation technologies for ship retrofitting, maintenance, repair and
conversion
Challenge 3.6: Engineering design of “top-side” modules for the O&G industry, integrating CMS
systems
Challenge 3.7: Engineering design for new generation FPSOs (i.e., “Floating Production, Storage

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and Offloading”) for the O&G industry
Challenge 3.8: Design and construction of an offshore aquaculture system for deep-water
locations.
 TP4. Port Technologies and Systems
Challenge 4.1: Logistic Single Window
Challenge 4.2: Introduction of Natural Gas and Renewable Energy in ports
Challenge 4.3: LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (LNG FSRU)
Challenge 4.4: Monitoring and safety systems for the maritime access, port infrastructure and
superstructure
Challenge 4.5: Flexibility in Port planning and design: best practices
The Agenda in Germany: “+atlantic.d”
The German Pole of OIPG is coordinated by the "Steinbeis Advanced Risk Technologies Group", at the
Steinbeis Foundation based in Stuttgart, and will focus its attention on the promotion of a set of
actions for the promotion of engineering, technology and innovation and its industrial development
in the area of risk management, in close collaboration with the European network "European Virtual
Institute for Integrated Risk Management EU-VRi".
Funding of projects to be developed in Germany and Europe will be achieved through ongoing
funding programs, including EU funds for research and development and industrial innovation, and
other private funds.
The Agenda in Brazil: “+atlantic.br”
The Brazilian Pole of OIPG is coordinated and sponsored by the National Organization of the
Petroleum Industry, ONIP, in Rio de Janeiro and includes a consortium of university research centers,
including: (i) Poli-UFRJ, through the Environmental Engineering Program for Oil and Gas industries
(PRH41 - ANP / MCTI), as offered by the Rio de Janeiro Federal University, UFRJ Polytechnic School &
Chemistry School; the Innovation Agency of the Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro, AGIR-
UFF; and iii) the Energy Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, IE-PUC RIO;
along with CEBRI, Brazilian Center for International Relations. It was launched in March 10, 2015.
The OIPG pole in Brazil will focus its attention on the promotion of a set of actions oriented towards
the exploration and production activities of energy resources, with an emphasis on oil and gas
"offshore" exploration and, in particular, the Brazilian “pre-salt”. Funding of projects to be developed
in Brazil will be achieved through ongoing funding programs, including public funds for research and
development and industrial innovation, private funds under the terms of the National Oil Agency,
ANP, and other private funds.
The Agenda in Colombia and the Caribe Sea: “+atlantic.co”
A local consortium, launched in March 13, 2015, including the University Antonio Nariño, COTECMAR
and the Technological University of Bolivar, promotes the Colombian Pole of OIPG. It will focus its
attention on the promotion of a set of actions for the promotion of engineering, technology and
innovation and its industrial exploitation in close connection with the expansion of the Panama Canal
and the construction of the Nicaragua canal, as well as new exploits in the Caribbean Sea.
The Colombian Pole of OIPG will give special attention to capacity building associated with the
shipping industry technologies and ports, as well as emerging technologies for the mining and energy
resources in the Caribbean.
Funding projects to develop in Colombia will be achieved through ongoing funding programs,
including public funds for research and development and industrial innovation, and other private
funds.

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Other potential promoters of the international Agenda “+atlantic”: under discussion
The expansion of the International Observatory - Global Policy for Sustainable Development of the
Atlantic (OIPG; http://www.oipg.org/), with founding institutions in Brazil, Colombia, Portugal and
Germany, to other countries is under discussion, including contacts in Spain, Norway, the United
States, Mexico, Angola and Mozambique, as follows:
United States:
 Carnegie Mellon University, through the Department of Engineering and Public Policy and the Scott Institute for
Energy Innovation;
 IC2 Institute, The University of Texas at Austin;
 Macroconnections, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, http://macro.media.mit.edu
Mexico:
 Monterey Tech
 IIE (Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas)
 Academy of Engineering
Spain:
 Academy of Engineering
 LITEC, University of Zaragoza
Norway:
 Global Maritime
 Innovation Norway
 NTNU
Angola:
 Ministry of Oil
Mozambique:
 University Lurio

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Annex: Founding Institutions and Promoters - contacts
Portugal:
• Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems, LARSyS:
Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, IN+, IST Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa)
 Manuel Heitor, mheitor@ist.utl.pt; Rui P. Santos, ruipimentelsantos@tecnico.ulisboa.pt;
Institute for Systems and Robotics, ISR, IST Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa)
 António Pascoal; Luis Sebastião
MARETEC, Maritime Technologies
 Ramiro Neves, Rodrigo Fernandes
Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, MITI, e OOM – Observatório Oceânico da Madeira,
http://oom.arditi.pt/
 Nuno Nunes, Rui Caldeira.
• CEIIA – Engineering and Innovation Center;
 Jose Rui felizardo, jrf@ceiia.com ; Artur Costa, artur.costa@ceiia.com; Francisco V Cunha
• WAVEC – Offshore Renewable Energies,
 Antonio Sarmento, antonio.sarmento@ist.utl.pt;
In collaboration with:
• DGPM: Directorate General for Maritime Policy
 João Fonseca Ribeiro, Fernando Dias Marques, Catarina Resende
• IRGC-Portugal; International Risk Governance Council - Portugal;
 Manuel Heitor, mheitor@ist.utl.pt;
Germany:
• Steinbeis Advanced Risks Technologies Group, Steinbeis Foundation;
 Aleksandar Jovanovic; jovanovic@eu-vri.eu
• European Virtual Institute for Integrated Risk Management (EU-VRi);
 Aleksandar Jovanovic; s.jovanovic@Risk-technologies.com
Brazil:
• ONIP, National Organization of the Petroleum Industry
 Carlos Camerini, ccamerini@onip.org.br; Alfredo Renault, arenault@onip.org.br
• Instituto de Energia, IE-PUC/RIO (Energy Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de
Janeiro):
 Eloy Fernandes
• AGIR, Agencia de Inovação da UFF, Univ Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro
 Thiago Renault, thiagorenault@gmail.com
• Poli-UFRJ, Programa de Engenharia Ambiental na Indústria do Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis
(PRH41 - ANP/MCTi da Escola Politécnica & Escola de Química da UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro
 Claudia Morgado, cmorgado@poli.ufrj.br
• CEBRI, Brazilian Center for International Relations, Rio de Janeiro
 Roberto Fengt, roberto.fendt@cebri.org.br
Colombia:
• Universidade Antonio Narino, Bogota
 CARLOS POSADA (Professor, Vice Reitor) , vicerrector.cti@uan.edu.co;
• Universidade Tecnológica de Bolivar, Cartagena
 Jairo Tovar, jcabrera@unitecnologica.edu.co;
• Cotecmar, Cartagena
 Jymmy Saravia Arenas, jsaravia@cotecmar.com; Milena Margarita Ortega Buelvas,
mortega@cotecmar.com; Jose Manuel Gomez Torres, jmgomez@cotecmar.com.