2015

After the resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 25 September 2015 concerning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, wherein the Sustainable Development Goal 14 was defined as Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, the target was set to create a research and development centre dedicated to oceanography and with exactly that mission statement. The following step was to decide where to locate it.

2016

On July 2016 a first visiting expedition was held on the 17 square kilometres Corvo Island, the smallest and most north western island of the Azorean Archipelago, practically in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean and the centre of an important network of oceanic currents, to evaluate the possibility to set a centre in it. A very warm and friendly reception by all local and small community (circa 400 inhabitants), with a long history of entrepreneurship and bravery towards the oceans an going back to the 15 century, together with the fact of being an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (2007) and having a small maritime port and aerodrome for small planes (supported by four international airports on the archipelago), were sufficient reasons to decide for this paradisiac place. The next step was to arrange small parcels of land to build the first facilities. These where subsequently arranged by December.

2017

As a further stimulus, on 5 December 2017, the United Nations proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, to be held from 2021 to 2030. This Decade is set to provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support countries’ actions to sustainably manage the Ocean and more particularly to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As otherwise stated, the Decade will provide a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to create a new foundation, across the science-policy interface, to strengthen the management of our oceans and coast for the benefit of humanity.

2018 - 2019

A series of further visiting expedition were held in Mozambique in order to investigate and study the opportunity to set a network of research and development centres dedicated to oceanography biding all together in a common vision and mission, sharing information and work on a comprehensive approach that could further and deepen our knowledge of both oceans and their mutual influence, viz. the Atlantic and Indian.

2019 - 2020

The Corvo Centre is officially created (2019), together with its statutes and the first core of necessary administrative staff. Having in mind the 2021 horizon concerning the beginning of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, its present assignment is: (1) to elaborate the scientific and development programme; (2) to build and capacitate the first necessary facilities; (3) promote network with other similar institutions; (4) bring in researchers and implement working groups and their teams; (5) promote engagement of business action and celebrate supporting partnerships with suppliers, sponsors and donors.