INCD GeoEcoMar will engage in global cooperation and competition in the C-D field, by increasing performance in the field of activity, the geo-ecology of aquatic systems – marine, coastal, deltaic, and fluvial, old and current, for the departments and research groups, having as results:

• Recruitment and training of human resources. Absolute priority, the recruitment and training of young people is strictly necessary to ensure the exchange of generations within the institute in all departments. The application of the salary system that promotes work and efficiency is being considered (time-rates on projects of different types, system implemented in INCD GeoEcoMar). Young researchers will follow training courses to understand new methods in the addressed scientific fields.
• Increasing the research and development capacity and the degree of use of the C-D infrastructure. Opening up to specific pan-European research infrastructure consortia will promote the growth of the user community of INCD GeoEcoMar infrastructures, along with increasing the involvement of its own C-D staff through a higher number of research projects. The use of data obtained through EMSO ERIC (including the Romanian component) will be intensified. Greater involvement of these infrastructures in technology transfer/collaboration and consultancy projects with private beneficiaries is another important objective. Preparation for future DANUBIUS-RI themed competitions is a major objective.
• The introduction of new research methods, required by the market and useful not only for research, but also for industry, the academic environment, including the private environment (e.g., laboratories for the analysis of microplastics in the aquatic environment, isotope laboratories, microbiology, RNA and DNA sequencing for various aquatic organisms).
• Emphasis on technological transfer and capitalization of research results. Increasing and diversifying the number of private partners and public administration clients are primary objectives for the institute. Entering active clusters, which will promote collaboration between public and private environments, will support the implementation of these objectives, along with the measures provided for in the previous point. The optimal solution for stimulating innovation and technology transfer is joining the Clusters that are preparing for the optimal use of the opportunities offered by the future DANUBIUS-RI (members of the DANUBIUS Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea cluster – based in Constanța, coordinator role at DANUBIUS Bucharest cluster). However, it is also necessary to develop a detailed plan to individualize and solve problems related to Intellectual Property Rights, as well as the way to respect them – both in collaboration with local and national administrations, as well as with private partners. The implementation of this plan will also contribute to the consolidation of the financial situation, through the prism of the royalties that will be collected.
• Increasing scientific production, including the number of articles published in journals indexed in WoS (especially those located in the first quarter of indexing), the number of articles in SCOPUS and Google Scholar indexed publications, as well as participation in conferences, especially international ones first rank (included in WOS and SCOPUS). The WoS indexing process of the journal of the Geo-Eco-Marina Institute (currently indexed by SCOPUS) will be resumed.
• GeoEcoMar will be present at major national and international fairs and exhibitions, but will also seek to be more active at events organized by local communities in the classic study areas (e.g. in the Danube Delta, the Black Sea coastal area).
• The visibility of GeoEcoMar will also increase through better communication with the mass media, both national and international, but also through a more active presence in online social media (more intense activity of the Facebook page, the Twitter account, the Research Gate account, etc. .). The connection with schools will also be strengthened, but also the opportunity to start Citizen Science projects will be analyzed, initially in collaboration with European partners, for better dissemination of the institute’s activities among the general public, including involvement in school activities of the “school otherwise”.
• Increasing the share of extrabudgetary funds in INCD revenues. Securing a diversified funding source has been and is the key to keeping GeoEcoMar in leading positions during more difficult financial times, and this strategy will be continued. Participation in as many European research consortia as possible will be encouraged and collaborations with the private sector and local and national administrations will be continued and expanded. The massive participation of GeoEcoMar researchers in open competitions at the national level will be encouraged, by submitting multidisciplinary projects.
• Infrastructure improvement in GeoEcoMar in order to identify the real need for IT equipment that can be used in optimal conditions, as well as possible redundancies, including solutions to increase computing capacity. Cloud computing systems will be developed. The GeoEcoMar intranet, launched a few years ago, will extend to all levels of management and internal communication in the institute.
• Access to other categories of projects/contracts, domestic or international, both with state bodies and from the private sector (e.g. direct contracts with large companies in the energy industry, UNESCO, NATO, IAEA projects, etc.).
• Expanding the investigation area of the marine research vessel Mare Nigrum, in order to carry out scientific missions, not only in the Black Sea, but also in the Mediterranean Sea and other sea basins.
• Supporting governmental bodies in order to mitigate adverse trends in the marine field, both from a scientific and geopolitical point of view.