The UK’s marine research sector is poised for an exciting transformation, with a proposed strategic investment into cutting-edge autonomous technology to boost ocean science capabilities. To fully unlock this potential, a new report recommends modernising and strengthening the digital systems that connect and power this technology - laying the foundation for a more integrated, efficient, and future-ready research infrastructure. 

Read the Digital Infrastructure Scoping Study.  

Key findings  

Digital disconnection

  • The UK’s current marine research system suffers from inconsistent digital foundations.
  • This causes inefficiencies across the entire research process - from planning and real-time data collection to analysis and sharing.
  • Without a solid digital system, even the most advanced equipment can’t reach its full potential.

New tech on the horizon

The Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI) programme proposes:

  • A new generation of research vessels.
  • More autonomous observing platforms (AUVs, gliders, unmanned surface vehicles).
  • Physical tools will not be enough - digital systems must evolve to match.

Key recommendations

A smarter, safer, more connected system: the report recommends building a next-generation digital infrastructure with three core features:

 

1. Integrated and federated digital governance

A coordinated approach is needed to govern the digital side of marine research.

Today, digital governance is fragmented across different organisations, making collaboration difficult.

Future governance will need to be:

  • Federated – allowing multiple partners to share responsibility
  • Flexible – tailored to the final structure of the FMRI programme

 

2. A user-centric, collaborative culture

Building infrastructure isn’t just about tech - it’s about people and culture.

A successful digital system must:

  • Be designed with users at the centre.
  • Encourage collaboration between research institutions.
  • Support new roles and training to help staff adapt.
  • Promote community-building across the sector.

 

3. Built-in cybersecurity and smart integration

  • The future system will be highly distributed, with many users and devices across the UK and beyond.
  • Security needs to be built in from the start, including:
  • State-of-the-art cybersecurity frameworks
  • Special protection for AI-enabled autonomous vehicles

The new system must:

  • Enable seamless remote operation of equipment
  • Allow interoperability and real-time data access
  • Foster cross-fleet collaboration for shared science missions

Why it matters

A digital transformation would aim to:

  • Support the UK’s green growth and environmental security goals.
  • Enable responsible innovation and future partnerships.
  • Help the UK remain a world leader in ocean science.

"The UK has the tools and talent to lead in marine research, but only if it modernises the digital systems that tie everything together. With the right investment in people, governance, and cybersecurity, the FMRI programme could unlock a new era of collaborative, cutting-edge ocean science."

Leigh Storey, NERC Senior Responsible Owner for FMRI

 

FMRI would like to thank the members of the Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI) Digital Infrastructure Scoping Study (DISS) Working Group:
Alberto Arribas (Chair, NOC); Alvaro Lorenzo Lopez (NOC); Helen Snaith (NOC); Jonathan Smith
(BAS); Jerry Blackford (PML); Matthew Fry (CEH); Andrew Saulter (Met Office); Liam Matear
(DEFRA); Dan Giles (ARIA); Rowan Fealy (Maynooth University); Andy Stanford-Clark (IBM);
Ola Podgorska (NOC); Alex Baldwin (NOC).