Abstract
Energy from the oceans has the potential to make major contributions towards renewable energy targets being adopted by European Governments over the next 10–15 years. To transform this from a possibility into a reality within the time frames requires numerous support frameworks to be implemented which assist research and demonstration programmes and stimulated the sharing of knowledge and resource information between all relevant parties. The EC funded Co-ordinated Action on Ocean Energy puts into place funding and a platform to enables device developers, wave and tidal energy researchers and standards agencies to share knowledge and information which will facilitate the transition of wave and tidal energy from an energy research technology to one approaching commercial competitiveness within the medium-term time frame, 2010–2015.