Division 1 Objectives of BONUS

BONUS shall enhance the Baltic Sea Region’s research capacity to underpin the development and implementation of ‘fit-for-purpose’ regulations, policies and management practices, to respond effectively to the major environmental and key societal challenges which the region faces and will face in the coming years and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Baltic Sea Region’s fragmented environmental research programming and approach by integrating the research activities in the Baltic Sea System into a durable, cooperative, interdisciplinary well-integrated and focused multi-national programme.

BONUS shall also contribute to the establishment and structuring of the ERA in the Baltic Sea Region.

In order to achieve those objectives it is necessary to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Baltic Sea Region’s fragmented environmental research programming by integrating research activities into a durable, cooperative, interdisciplinary well-integrated and focused multi-national programme in support of the region’s sustainable development. To this end BONUS shall:

1. (a)

   establish a policy-driven Strategic Research Agenda;

2. (b)

   increase sustainable cross-border and cross-sectoral public research programme coordination and integration;

3. (c)

   raise the research capacity of the new Baltic Member States of the Union;

4. (d)

   establish appropriate Stakeholder Consultation Platforms including representation from all relevant sectors;

5. (e)

   mobilise additional financial resources from enhanced cross-sectoral Baltic Sea System research collaboration;

6. (f)

   establish appropriate implementation modalities enabling an effective implementation of BONUS through a joint management legal entity and governance structure;

7. (g)

   launch cross-thematic, strategically focused and multi-partner joint calls for proposals.