OPENING SESSION

OPERA Annual Workshop 2026

WorkshopSummary

The second annual OPERA workshop will take place from 12 to 14 October in Cotonou, Benin, organised by Mercator Ocean International in collaboration with local hosts University Abomey Calavi - UNESCO International Chair of Mathematical Physics and Applications, the Benin Institute for Halieutic and Oceanographic Research (IRHOB) and Benin Environment and Education Society (BEES ONG). 

The meeting will serve to bring together OPERA partners in Africa and Europe as well as relevant regional bodies and organizations to announce new African partners, technical assistance partners and planned developments in the project. The meeting will also present future opportunities for collaboration open to both the African and EU community, establish links with other relevant programmes and facilitate discussions to collect feedback on key activities.

SpecificObjectives

  • Introduce the African Regional Centre of Excellence for ocean forecasting and technical partner and share planned developments

  • Announce African Regional Centres of Excellence for applications and selected applications and share planned developments

  • Present capacity development activities and current and upcoming opportunities – led by UAC/ICMPA

  • Establish links with other regional groups and programmes

  • Gather feedback on needs and expectations from partners and stakeholders

  • Strengthen African EU dialogue and collaboration on ocean forecasting and its application

  • Announce future opportunities for collaboration and calls for participation

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Draft Programme

12-14 October 2026
All times shown are UTC+1
Oct 12Oct 13Oct 14
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OPENING SESSION
LUNCH
SESSION #2 - OPERA PROJECT
TEA BREAK
SESSION #3 - GOOS AFRICA
SOCIAL DINER
SESSION #4 - OCEAN FORECASTING SYSTEMS
TEA BREAK
SESSION #5 - APPLICATIONS
LUNCH
SESSION #6 - CAPACITY STRENGHTENING
SESSION #7 - USER & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
SESSION #8 - SCIENCE TO POLICY
TEA BREAK
SESSION #9 - SYNERGIES WITH OTHER PROGRAMMES & INITIATIVES