The EU Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is an interactive, science-based digital replica of the Ocean designed to support better decision-making on Ocean challenges. It will be showcased in the DECIDE area of the European Digital Ocean Pavilion at UNOC3 in Nice, France, where visitors can explore Europe’s latest advancements in ocean monitoring and predictive technologies.
DECIDE Area: Where Digital Innovation Meets Ocean Governance
The European Digital Ocean Pavilion, part of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), will be open to the public from 2 to 13 June at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, France. Designed to showcase Europe’s leadership in Ocean knowledge and scientific innovation, the Pavilion will offer an immersive, hands-on experience of how digital tools are changing the way we understand, monitor, and manage the Ocean.
The Pavilion will include a DECIDE Area, an interactive “Ocean Situation Room” where visitors can explore the EU Digital Twin Ocean in action. Using dashboards, simulations and advanced data visualisations, users can run “what if” scenarios on a wide range of Ocean challenges, from coastal hazards and sea level rise to marine plastic pollution.
The DECIDE area will feature interactive tools and visualisations to explore the EU Digital Twin Ocean’s capabilities.
European Digital Twin Ocean: A New Era for Ocean Knowledge
What is it?
The European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is an interactive and dynamic digital simulation platform that enables decision-makers to forecast, test, and assess how marine systems respond to environmental and human-driven pressures. It is designed to foster evidence-based action and sustainable ocean management.
Developed under the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’, the DTO is part of Europe’s wider effort to leverage digital innovation for climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and ocean health.
How does it work?
The EU DTO integrates data and models from key European assets such as the Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network). It uses cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance modelling to combine diverse data streams into a seamless, interactive digital environment.
From 2022 to Today: Key Milestones of the EU Digital Twin Ocean
Official Launch
The EU Digital Twin Ocean was announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in February 2022 at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, marking the EU’s commitment to harness digital innovation for sustainable Ocean management.
EDITO: Building the Digital Core
The DTO is being built through two EU-funded projects: EDITO-Infra (launched December 2022) and EDITO-Model Lab (launched January 2023). Together, these initiatives deliver the digital infrastructure and simulation capabilities essential for the platform. The Copernicus Marine Service contributes to both projects with open data, models, and digital services.
First Demonstration
A pre-operational release of the DTO was unveiled at the Third Digital Ocean Forum in June 2024, featuring applications designed to address marine plastic pollution and other key environmental challenges.
Endorsement from the UN Ocean Decade
In 2024, the DTO was officially endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). This recognition illustrates its contribution to international collaboration, data sharing, and digital innovation in marine science.
Next Step: UNOC3
At UNOC3 in Nice, the EU DTO will be presented in its first public operational demonstration, showcasing a broad range of applications including biodiversity monitoring, plastic pollution, marine biology, coastal monitoring, safety, and navigation.
Find out more about the European Digital Ocean Pavilion and register at www.digitaloceanpavilion.eu.
