NFVI presents recommendations for knowledge-based solutions to address key societal challenges on how humanity is going to live in harmony with the Ocean. It provides recommendations on how to close knowledge gaps on these fundamental aspects of marine science and how to make these discoveries visible and understandable to policy makers, industry, and society at large. NFVI is structured around four key chapters, selected due to their link to policy interest at national, European, and international level and their transdisciplinary nature: Ocean and People; Ocean and Climate; Ocean and Fresh Water; and Ocean and Biodiversity. NFVI tajes stock in terms of progress towards achieving the goals of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the EU’s Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters (and other EU Missions), and the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Framework funding programme at their mid-term points. It provides recommendations for what is missing in terms of research needs and how to ensure that science is accessible for informing these initiatives.