Science Evidence Data and Digital Portfolio Annual Report 2024 - 2025

Marine Science and Innovation Strategy

The Marine, Science and Innovation Strategy published on 11 January 2024 sets out the vital role Scottish Government plays in making the most of marine and freshwater science across Scotland; thereby ensuring the natural assets of Scotland are working sustainably to provide the optimum return for the people of Scotland. Delivering the Strategy’s outcomes will require us to pioneer new ways of working, which will continue to ensure that Scotland contributes effectively to the protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of our marine and freshwater environments.

The role of science and innovation in delivering the Blue Economy Vision is becoming more compelling and even more important if we, as an island nation, are to achieve the outcomes we desire from that vision. The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss mean that the environment must be considered in every aspect of human activity in the marine and freshwater spaces, if we are to preserve natural resources and to minimise adverse impacts of future developments.

The Strategy is a high-level document that sets out the vision, mission and objectives for how science and innovation can contribute to the delivery of a number of Scottish Government programmes whilst ensuring that we are utilising our resources effectively and identifies six priority strategic outcomes under which action will be taken and directed.

Three products will be published in 2025 that follow through from the Strategy, with a focus on strategic collaboration, partnership working and innovation, bringing clarity around the role of Government in delivery, convening and commissioning. These three products are an Annual Report (AR) from January 2024 to 31 March 2025 (this Report) and annually thereafter; an Implementation Plan (IP) from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030 and an Areas of Research Interest (ARI) Paper.