Presentation of the CHONOS Initiative at the EDITO 2024 Digital Ocean Forum, Brussels 2024.
August 6th, 2024
Brussels – During the EDITO 2024 Digital Ocean Forum, Elías Pinilla, researcher at the Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), presented the innovative CHONOS Initiative, a program that has as its central objective the sustainable management of the coasts in the Chilean Patagonia region, through ocean observations and simulations.
Aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is a multidimensional virtual representation of the ocean. It combines marine observations, artificial intelligence, and ocean models operating on high-performance computers. This flagship initiative of the European Commission, co-developed by Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), was presented at the Digital Ocean Forum 2024, offering new capabilities for marine data exploration and decision-making. The forum brought together experts and representatives from mainly European initiatives, making the presence of IFOP’s CHONOS particularly relevant as a prominent example of ‘Digital Ocean’ applied to the complexity of Patagonia’s channels and fjords.
The presentation of CHONOS and the discussion forums is a significant recognition, as it positions IFOP on the global map of advanced science-based ocean research and management. Aligning local efforts with the Digital Twin Ocean platform underlines the importance of integrating technical aspects with public policy decision-making to promote sustainable management of marine resources on the coast of Chile.
During the visit to Belgium, meetings were also held with scientists from EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network), under the auspices of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), with whom IFOP has a fruitful collaboration agreement since 2022. Discussions focused on possible collaborations for the standardization of data infrastructures and on the exploration of joint research projects.
The CHONOS Initiative has gained significant visibility among the European scientific community and decision-makers, opening doors for future international collaborations that strengthen sustainable marine management in Chile. This visibility allows for the exchange of knowledge and technologies to be fostered, as well as positioning the developments carried out in Chile as part of a sustainable management model in the context of climate change.
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