D1.3 – Ethics

This document is the Ethics Report (D1.3) defined under Task 1.3 of OCEANIDS (Project No.101112919). This deliverable will assure compliance with ethical standards and best practices. Furthermore, it will describe how ethical considerations can drive innovation.
OCEANIDS will adhere to the statement included in the GA (Grant Agreement) of the project in Article 14 (14.1) “The action must be carried out in line with the highest ethical standards and the applicable EU, international and national law on ethical principles”.
The OCEANIDS initiative represents a pioneering effort to integrate Climate-Informed Maritime Spatial Planning (CI-MSP) with the overarching goal of reinforcing the sustainability and inclusivity of the Blue Economy. This Ethics Report elucidates the project’s unwavering commitment to ethical excellence, in strict accordance with the European Union’s Horizon Europe program’s rigorous ethical standards. Central to this report is the delineation of ethical considerations inherent to the project and the articulation of robust strategies devised to address these considerations.
Foremost among these are comprehensive measures to ensure data protection and privacy in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), meticulous protocols for stakeholder engagement and the securing of informed consent, and a proactive stance on assessing and mitigating environmental impacts. The project’s dedication to an Ethics by Design methodology ensures that ethical considerations are intricately woven into the fabric of project technologies and methodologies from inception to conclusion. Through detailed risk assessments, the report outlines potential ethical pitfalls and their corresponding mitigation strategies, establishing a comprehensive ethics compliance, monitoring, and reporting framework. This executive summary encapsulates the report's assertion that the OCEANIDS project is not only a testament to scientific and technological advancement but also a beacon of ethical integrity and responsibility.
It is crucial to note that according to the GA, Geosystems Hellas (GSH) is designated as the responsible organization for this deliverable. However, it is DRAK that possesses the expertise to deliver comprehensive and precise documentation. DRAK, renowned for its provision of top-tier legal services at the highest global standards, will oversee ethics and legal matters.