Associated partners, from all over the world, include research institutions, companies and industry-linked entities and universities. The selection of Associates reflects their expertise in the field, their excellence, common interest, complementarities and/or long-lasting history of collaboration. In addition strategic geographical (European and global coverage), socio-economic (diverse sources of chemical pollution and economical background), and environmental criteria were used. European universities were incorporated to provide an enhanced marine European perspective to the ECT+ EMJMD programme.

Associates represent the three main European catchment regions, which are pivotal regarding environmental threats and challenges and environmental regulatory policies in the area of chemical pollution and its biological consequences. Indeed, the main international conventions are structured around these catchment regions: OSPAR for the North East Atlantic (NIVA, ICMAN-CSIC, HI,  CIIMAR…),  HELCOM  for the Baltic Sea (SYKE),  Barcelona Convention for the Mediterranean (IEM-CSIC, UNIVPM, STARESO…) and Bucharest Convention for the Black Sea (UTNU…).

Associates include European research institutions involved both in consultancy for national agencies and research (IEO, IFREMER, NIVA, INERIS, UBA, SYKE, …) create a European pan-marine network of high standard research facilities, with teams with a long history of cooperation. They have been involved in the most outstanding questions in monitoring and assessment of environmental pollution and its biological effects, in environmental risk assessment, and management in Europe: launching and compliance of Environmental Directives (WFD, MSFD, STSD, REACH, CLP …); major oil spill responses; international conventions; etc. They altogether combine different expertise and scope that cover most of the research aspects included in the ECT+ programme (multidisciplinarity, transversal research, etc.). ACLIMA and ECETOC-CEFIC are entities linked to industry; this gives them a particular added value. They provide ECT+ EMJMD students with research traineeships, supervision, and teaching in relation to aspects close to the needs of employers, as well as with Professional Practice Placements (Internship). In particular, they will contribute to reinforce transversal competences and skills, whilst their assistance in QA procedures will be also invaluable. Strategically, there are research and consultancy entities; and their activities lie within the framework of large companies and industries.

Partner-Country Associates provide also a combination of research expertise, scopes, profiles and experience that are consistent with the ECT+ EMJMD programme objectives and scope. Most have on-going postgraduate programmes, with contents that complement the ECT+ EMJMD programme. They act as antennae to attract students and scholars from different windows of the world and as recipients to host ECT+ EMJMD students during their research work. This will provide the students with the opportunity to undertake their research worldwide.