International and Strategic Partnerships Office
The International and Strategic Partnerships Office (ISPO - formerly known as the National Marine Coordination Office (NMCO), established in 2006), is part of NERC's National Marine Capability based at the National Oceanography Centre and works with the marine science community and a variety of marine and maritime partners in the UK and overseas to improve dialogue and sustained interactions in an inclusive, impartial way.
The International & Strategic Partnerships team responds to marine science policy consultations from UK, devolved and European administrations, acts to stimulate knowledge exchange between the marine science community and policy makers, engages with Learned Societies and Professional Bodies, and facilitates input to marine policy developments. Staff work closely with international and UK marine and maritime partners across a broad range of subject areas, helping to deliver the EU's vision of a more closely integrated marine and maritime sector, and enabling links between public and private sector marine experts.
ISPO provides the secretariat for Oceans 2025, the NERC marine centres' strategic research programme for 2007-2012, and also provides the NERC contribution to the secretariat for the Government's Marine Science Co-ordination Committee (MSCC).
The ISPO is the NOC focus for international engagement and the development of international partnerships. We represent the UK marine science community at the European Science Foundation (ESF) Marine Board, and lead the UK's input to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). We host the CLIVAR international project office, part of the World Climate Research Programme.