Projects

The AQUARIUS project aims to provide access to a comprehensive and diverse suite of integrated research infrastructures in order to address the challenges and explore the opportunities necessary for the long-term sustainability of marine and freshwater ecosystems. AQUARIUS will bring together a diverse portfolio of 57 research infrastructures, facilitating more holistic research on aquatic ecosystems. An online catalogue of research infrastructures will allow visitors to search and view these infrastructures by type and location, learn about access arrangements and training requirements. Transnational access to AQUARIUS infrastructures will be ensured through a competitive call-to-finance process. AQUARIUS will launch two calls for funding, inviting candidates for research and innovation projects that can demonstrate how they will use more research infrastructures to contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission: Restoring our oceans and waters.

The future of the Black Sea is a key priority for the European Union. The Burgas Vision Paper issued in May 2018, under an initiative supported by the European Commission, outlines the key framework to ensure the sustainable development of the Black Sea by 2030. It focusses on the creation of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) based on the identification of critical research problems. The 2019 “Bucharest Declaration” of the scientific community launched the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the Black Sea. Black Sea CONNECT is a key H2020 Coordination and Support Action (CSA) which addressed the development of scientifically, technically and logistically support for the broader Black Sea Blue Growth Initiative, supported by the European Commission (EC) and composed of country-appointed experts, stakeholders and various national and international organizations.

Black Sea CONNECT was the first project in its own field for Black Sea. The initiative has strengthened connections among Black Sea countries, paving the way for long-term regional cooperation and sustainable growth.

The overall objective of the Black Sea CONNECT was to coordinate the development of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), based on the defined principles in the Burgas Vision Paper, and support the development of the Blue Economy in the Black Sea.

The SRIA and its Implementation Plan will guide stakeholders from academia, funding agencies, industry, policy, and society to address together the fundamental Black Sea challenges, to promote the blue economy and its prosperities of the Black Sea region, to build critical support systems and innovative research infrastructure and to improve education and capacity building.

BRIDGE-BS project aims to develop the tools and predictive capabilities needed to understand and predict the impact of both climatic and anthropogenic multiple stressors on the ecosystem services provided by the Black Sea. These ecosystem services and their responses to stressors will be mapped, monitored and modelled to identify a safe operating space in which a sustainable blue economy can thrive. Thus, BRIDGE-BS is structured around „three” interconnected nodes – “Dynamics of ecosystem services”, „Blue Growth Incubators” and „Responsible Citizens”. Node 1 will assess, predict and determine ecosystem resilience, using data time series, simulations, and machine learning tools to provide adaptive management tools. Node 2 will identify services that can support Sustainable Blue Growth in the Black Sea by strengthening resource management, developing and applying innovative technologies, and supporting start-ups and innovative business models to create added value and jobs. Node 3 will support the uptake of scientific results provided by BRIDGE-BS into sectoral policies and will train and strengthen the collaborations between scientists and stakeholders, as well as between policy makers, industry and civil society representatives. Most importantly, through Node 3, BRIDGE-BS will create a connected Black Sea community, strengthened by a new generation of researchers and innovators, to address the emerging challenges of the Black Sea.

The CCI Lakes project consisted of producing and validating key variables for the assessment of the effects of climate change in lakes around the world and is part of the European Space Agency’s initiative to study climate change. These variables were: water temperature and water level, water extent, ice cover and water colour. Variables were obtained through satellite data from the 1990s to the present day and had constituted the most time-extensive databases of this kind. The first sets of variables, obtained within the project, were published in 2020 for a set of over 250 lakes.

The project studied the lagoons, deltas and estuaries, the transitional areas between rivers and seas. Its main objective was to improve and harmonize methods of studing surface waters by using satellite data and in-situ measurements. CERTO investigated water parameters used to assess the quality status of all transitional aquatic environments. The project provided services that could be used by environmental quality monitoring agencies, by those working in the field of environmental policies, by various private companies, as well as by the general public. The main result of the project was a system ready to be implemented in the Copernicus services or in other specific softwares.

The project focuses on the lagoons, deltas and estuaries, which are the transition areas between rivers, streams and seas. The objective of the project is to improve and harmonize the studying methods for the surface waters, using satellite data and in-situ measurements. CERTO will investigate the water parameters that can be used to assess the quality status of all transitional aquatic environments. The project will provide services that can be used by the environmental quality monitoring agencies, by those working in the field of environmental policies, by various private companies, but also by the general public. The main result of the project will be a system ready to be implemented in the Copernicus services or specific software.

Europe’s rivers are congested. More than a million barriers, like dams, ramps and fords, are causing extensive loss of river connectivity. In addition, human interventions have ecologically degraded a whopping 70 to 90 % of Europe’s floodplain. Despite ambitious EU policy to turn things around, fresh and transitional water ecosystem restoration remains limited. The EU-funded DANUBE4all project will develop a comprehensive restoration action plan for the Danube River basin lighthouse. The project will engage stakeholders, integrating citizens’ interests to support the EU Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ in an unprecedented cocreation process. The action plan will rely on solid scientific knowledge and new findings to promote ecological status, biodiversity, and ecosystem connectivity improvement.

The DOORS Research and Innovation Action developed an optimised open research support system for the Black Sea to: (1) address human and climate change impacts on its fragile and damaged ecosystems and (2) support real behavioural change across its complex geopolitical and governance landscape for Blue Economy development. In doing so, DOORS provided the ambitious framework to overcome the barriers to the advancement of the Blue Economy agenda. DOORS brought together existing fragmented monitoring efforts, delivered state-of-the art observation capability, engaged stakeholders through participatory approaches and established a harmonized capacity-building framework. These outcomes maximise the benefits to all Black Sea communities to promote business growth, well-informed stakeholders and educated citizens.

The overall objective of DOORS is to make the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the Black Sea operational, support the successful implementation of Blue Economy and contribute to a healthy, productive and resilient Black Sea. To fulfil this, DOORS embed stakeholders’ collaboration at its core and developed three Programmes:

1. Programme-1 System of Systems (SoS) for the Black Sea, a platform for evidence-based knowledge development that was co-designed with policy makers and covers relevant aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological parameters of the Black Sea. The SoS enables a more holistic approach, reflecting the ecosystems services provided, and provides scientific support to the management of the Black Sea.
2. Programme-2 Blue Growth Accelerator (BGA), identified sectors and entrepreneurs for innovation, provided professional support to unlock their potential, enhanced the exploitation of knowledge, and facilitated access to investors and constructive exchange between scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers for sustainable development of Blue Economy sectors.
3. Programme-3 Knowledge Transfer and Training (KTT), built upon on existing, and developed new collaborations, between the different actors on science and policy to promote a culture of openness, share best practice and knowledge. It built capacity to address impacts by engaging stakeholders from the beginning of the project to develop and sustain mutually beneficial collaboration.

DOORS is underpinned by co-development and co-creation of the research and innovation action with key actors from across the Black Sea thus having built mutual trust and understanding which ensured that stakeholder engagement was highly productive.

Financed under Horizon Europe Framework Programme, EASTERN LIGHTS project is a crucial first step towards a large-scale onshore CCUS cluster in Eastern Europe. This initiative, centered in North West Bulgaria and driven by a powerful collaboration of 19 organisations across 8 countries, will de-risk development by demonstrating CO₂ transport and storage capabilities. By uniting diverse expertise, Eastern Lights aims to eliminate key uncertainties through industrial demonstration, in-depth research, and proactive stakeholder engagement.

The 2030 & 2050 Green Deal goals push EU towards integrated solutions & clear targets. EcoDaLLi, embedded in the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean, seas & waters by 2030’ will help achieve freshwater targets of European Green Deal, integrating a systemic approach for restoration, protection & preservation for the entire Danube Basin, provided by coordinated actions.

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the EMODnet operational service by maintaining and enhancing availability and services for the parameters under their responsibility, through the EMODnet Central Portal.

The EMODnet-Bathymetry Portal is being developed within the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). The project provides services for discovering and requesting access to the bathymetric data (survey datasets and composite DTMs) that are managed by a growing number of data providers.

EMODnet-Geology project is one of seven projects that bring together information on geology, chemistry, biology, physics, bathymetry, seabed habitats and human activities in the European marine environment. Each project brings together marine data, data products and metadata from a wide range of sources. Within the EMODnet Geology project, the information made available to the network is mainly provided by the project partners, but other organisations also contribute to the geological mapping objectives in many of the participating countries.

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is funded by the European Union under Regulation (EU) No 508/15.05.2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the EMODnet operational service by maintaining and enhancing availability and services for the parameters under their responsibility, through the EMODnet Central Portal.

In the framework of the Phase 3 extension (2019-2021), the EUSeaMap platform will be updated and transposed into new classifications, namely EUNIS 2019, HELCOM HUB (in the Baltic Sea), and the revised classification of Mediterranean habitat types will be also implemented. The map collection will be expanded and used to produce several new composite data products. The first phase of transposition of EUNIS 2007 habitat maps into EUNIS 2019 will also be completed.

The overall objective of this project is to further develop an operational service whereby the marine data and data products built according to common standards can be found, viewed and downloaded in a free and unrestricted way of use.

In the fourth phase (2021–2023), the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project will expand its area of investigation into two new regions: the Caspian Sea and some European Caribbean territories. In this phase, updated versions of the large-scale EMODnet map of marine bental habitats for Europe (EUSEaMap) will be delivered, together with new products for coastal wetlands and essential fish habitats.

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the EMODnet operational service by maintaining and enhancing availability and services for the parameters under their responsibility, through the EMODnet Central Portal.

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the EMODnet operational service by maintaining and enhancing availability and services for the parameters under their responsibility, through the EMODnet Central Portal.

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the EMODnet operational service by maintaining and enhancing availability and services for the parameters under their responsibility, through the EMODnet Central Portal.

The Seabed Habitats project activities will consist of building a habitat support layer, modelled from multiple databases. Analyses will identify biologically relevant threshold values for the variables used to define the boundaries between classes. A new model, required to produce a large-scale EUNIS habitat map at a scale of 1:100,000 or larger, will extend the spatial coverage to include the Barents Sea and other areas where input data coverage allows.

EMSO-Link project aimed to accelerate and establish EMSO ERIC governance rules and procedures and facilitate the coordination of the construction, operation, expansion and maintenance of the EMSO ERIC infrastructure.

ENOS strives to enhance the development of CO2 storage onshore, close to CO2 emission points. Several field pilots in various geological settings will be studied in detail and best practices that stakeholders can rely on will be produced. In this way, ENOS will help demonstrate that CO2 storage is safe and environmentally sound and increase the confidence of stakeholders and the public in CCS as a viable mitigation option. Developing, testing and demonstrating in the field, under “real-life conditions”, key technologies specifically adapted to onshore storage.Contributing to the creation of a favourable environment for onshore storage across Europe.

ENVRI-FAIR represents the link between the Environmental Research Infrastructures (ENVRI) cluster and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

The project aimed to achieve a synergistic alliance of marine research infrastructures belonging to the 41 participating European and international organizations.

EUROFLEETS2 project represents the continuation and improvement of EUROFLEETS1, aiming to develop a new pan-European distributed research infrastructure with a common strategic vision and coordinated access to research vessels and marine equipment.

EUROFLEETS2 will undertake specific actions aimed at strengthening the organisation, methodology and tools of the vessels through operational experimental tests (such as virtual fleets) leading to a fully interoperable and cost-effective European research fleet.

The project aims to use the research infrastructure framework and concept to successfully support the needs of the river basin community to overcome the current technical state, as well as to support the connection of multiple hydrographic networks and operations, which are currently disconnected. The project will develop the concept of a EuroGO-SHIP research infrastructure to support the needs of ICES, GO-SHIP and other relevant hydrographic observation networks existing in the fulfilment of their missions.

The EuroGO-SHIP project seeks to enable the European community conducting hydrographic observations at sea to provide higher quality and more sustainable data flows to a broad range of end users, more effectively. The project will work towards strengthening European capabilities to deliver world-class Oceanographic science, which is key to inform policies and to meet the goals of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and the wider objectives of the EU Green Deal.

The EUSeaMap2 project (Physical Habitat Map of European Seas) aimed to expand the work carried out in the EUSeaMap preparatory phase 1, to evolve from a prototype to an operational service, and to provide full coverage of a large-scale map of European sea basins. Habitat maps contain essential information about the seabed, necessary for the sustainable management and development of the economic potential of European sea basins. European habitat maps serve to design ecologically coherent networks of marine protected areas, to model species distribution, to support benthic habitat monitoring programmes and to support maritime spatial planning. One way to save time and money, necessary for a wider coverage of benthic habitats, is to use low-resolution maps and predictive models, which can be generated by combining a series of proxy measurements (water depth, sediment type and light intensity) with statistical analysis and geographic information system modelling. The project consortium is committed to developing habitat maps and facilitating easier public access to the data.

The EUSeaMap3 project (Operation, development and maintenance of the European Seabed Habitats Observation and Data Network – EMODNET Lot 2) aimed at further developing an operational service where marine data on seabed habitats are interoperable and available. The project involved the development of data products, thus providing (free and open) access to the observations on which these data products were built. EUSeaMap3 produced new information on the hydrographic features of European seas, and the collection of individual species and habitat models was carried out by universities and research institutes. Following the implementation, the project had the following results: data on habitats in European seas, products describing the marine environment, such as salinity, wave exposure and optical properties of water, 300,000 habitat inventory stations in European sea areas, over 800 maps describing seabed habitats, over 50 seabed habitat models collected, EOV (Essential Ocean Variables) products – seaweed, macro-algae, corals, interactive maps of seabed habitats and final project products;

HYDRALAB+ is an advanced network of environmental research institutes in Europe whose purpose is to provide access to a number of major and unique hydraulic installations across Europe. The project’s objective is to prepare the hydraulic modelling of the environment for the future and to respond to the technical challenges related to climate change adaptations through a multidisciplinary scientific approach. HYDRALAB+ helps broaden the climate change perspective by undertaking networking activities involving the participation of the hydraulic community. The project aims to strengthen the experimental hydraulic research by improving the infrastructures so that they facilitate scientific progress in the field, but also to contribute to a better approach to climate change adaptation issues.

Renewable hydrogen combined with large scale underground storage enables transportation of energy through time, balancing out the impacts of variable renewable energy production. While storing pure hydrogen in salt caverns has been practiced since the 70s in Europe, it has never been carried out anywhere in depleted fields or aquifers.

Technical developments are needed to validate these two solutions. As subsurface technical feasibility studies for a future hydrogen storage in depleted field or aquifer will be site-specific, as for other geology related activities, HyStories will provide developments applicable to a wide range of possible future sites: the addition of H2-storage relevant characteristics in reservoir databases at European scale; reservoir and geochemical modelling for cases representative of European subsurface, and tests of this representativeness by comparing it with results obtained with real storage sites models; and lastly an extensive sampling and microbiological lab experiment programme to cover a variety of possible conditions.

Complementarily, techno-economic feasibility studies will provide insights into underground hydrogen storage for decision makers in government and industry. Modelling of the European energy system will first define the demand for hydrogen storage. Environmental and Societal impact studies will be developed. For a given location and hydrogen storage demand, a high-level cost assessment for development of each of the competing geological storage options at that location will be estimated, and the sites will be ranked based on techno-economic criteria developed within the project. Finally, several case studies will enable consideration of the implementation of potential projects, notably by considering their economic interest.

This will provide substantial insight into the suitability for implementing such storage across EU and enable the proposition of an implementation plan.

Land-Sea Interface: Let’s Observe Together (LandSeaLot) is a Horizon Europe project that seeks to integrate and enhance existing coastal observation efforts including in situ, satellite, modelling and citizen science to better study the land-sea interface area, where terrestrial and marine habitats meet. LandSeaLot is a four-year Horizon Europe funded project that will apply novel approaches to help achieve the goals of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and the wider objectives of the EU Green Deal.The 20-partner consortium works to bring together the fragmented land-sea interface area observation communities across various scientific domains to co-design and develop an integrated, optimal, and robust observation of the land-sea interface area.

In LandSeaLot, GeoEcoMar is co-leading Work Package 2, contributing to building a Common Observation Strategy and to the long-term project’s impact and legacy. LandSeaLot Integration Labs are dynamic testing sites for developing and refining a Common Observation Strategy across land-sea interface areas in Europe. They serve as centres to test new methods and technologies, following a community-based approach to a fit-for-purpose observation of river mouths, estuaries and deltas. GeoEcoMar leads the Danube Delta LandSeaLot Integration Lab (LIL) in the framework of Work Package 5. The Danube Delta and coastal area Integration Lab is observing, mapping, analysing and modelling on coastal morphology and sedimentology, as well as plastics and nutrients pollution patterns and hotspots. These observation efforts will provide crucial data to stakeholders and policymakers and support local and regional mitigation.

The MARBEFES project (Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning leading to Ecosystem Services) promotes an integrative approach to marine biodiversity, treating it as a continuous and interconnected system across space and time, beyond conventional boundaries between estuary, coast, and offshore areas. From this perspective, the project seeks a deep understanding of ecosystem dynamics and how they respond to global pressures. The research encompasses 12 Broad Belt Transects, covering the four major marine regions of the European Union – the Arctic, Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean – aiming to capture biodiversity and ecological phenomena along the river-to-ocean gradient. This structure enables comparative analysis of ecosystem responses to various stressors and highlights the regional variability of biodiversity changes.

MARBEFES contributes to strengthening the scientific foundation necessary for protecting marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable use.

Coastal and marine areas are incredibly dynamic and productive oceanic regions, providing significant resources and services for both wildlife and people. But they are also subject to intense pressures from agricultural and industry pollution in waterways, dredging and building development.

Many national and regional programmes assess environmental health and human impact on our coasts, but these programmes are often fragmented, short term and uncoordinated at larger scales.

MARCO-BOLO aims to connect the existing initiatives, to optimise and improve the methods, and to further innovate the technologies for biodiversity observations.

The MARINA project aims to promote responsible research and innovation (RRI), with a focus on marine issues and pressures that have important effects on European societies. The project has developed, coordinated and experienced a platform that promotes responsible research and innovation (RRI) involving societal actors in research and innovation and aiming to harmonize the whole process and its results with the values, needs and expectations of European society, thus integrating European citizens’ visions, needs and desires regarding science and innovation and promoting RRIs with a focus on marine issues and pressures that have important effects on European societies. Even though they were related only to marine research, the project activities and results defined this systematic approach to make it transferable and applicable to any RRI thematic area.

The project aims to support coherent maritime spatial planning (MSP) in Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the MSP Directive 2014/89/EU, as well as to establish a lasting mechanism for cross-border cooperation in the Black Sea basin in the field of MSP.

MICS is a Citizen Science (CS) impact measurement project funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. The project involves six European partners from five countries. MICS adopts and adapts the best practices generated by the Ground Truth 2.0 project in co-creating validated CS in four case studies in Europe, aiming at creating a comprehensive conceptual framework and formulating clear recommendations for those involved in CS projects. The four areas (from the UK, Italy, Hungary and Romania) explore CS co-creation in regions with different needs, contexts and approaches for managing environmental quality issues (for example, river restoration and implementation of green solutions – Nature Based Solutions) and different levels of CS application.

MONOCLE project brings together 12 organisations from Europe and Africa to develop sustainable solutions for monitoring surface water quality through measurements of their optical characteristics. The project uses a combination of satellite measurements, beacons, boats, drones and portable devices. Field instruments range from highly accurate automated systems, used mostly by researchers, to solutions involving low-cost sensors, solutions that can be accessed and operated by representatives of the general public.

NAIAD is a research project funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020, which aims to contribute to the better understanding and promotion of green solutions (Nature Based Solutions – NBS), necessary to mitigate water risks (flood, drought, erosion, etc.). GeoEcoMar was responsible for coordinating the activities in the case study “Lower Danube”.

The post-COVID period highlighted that society needs a new environmental agreement (GND), which resets economic systems to create safe jobs, protect nature, act to mitigate climate change and floods, prevent pollution and preserve biodiversity. This green new deal needs to harness safe, renewable technologies and nature-based solutions

ReSET project aims to leverage developments in spatial modelling, artificial intelligence and interoperable environmental sensing to better understand pathways to RESET agricultural and urban development across Europe in order to increase sustainability.

Restore4Life demonstrates the multiple socio-economic benefits generated by a holistic and transdisciplinary approach for the restoration of freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin that will contribute to new blue-green infrastructure supporting regional climate change resilience and mitigation.

Restore4Life engages in 4 demonstration sites and 6 monitoring sites all across the Danube basin to make evident that increased delivery of key ecosystem services, as water and pollutant retention, carbon sequestration and tourism opportunities as well as improved resilience of water-dependent habitats will produce multiple socio-economic synergies that also provide opportunities for sustainable businesses and investments.

REXUS project’s main goal is to bring transformative change in the way our societies approach the Water Food Energy Climate Nexus. The project argues that this is possible only through the activation of inclusive nexus partnerships, the Learning & Action Alliances (LAAs). The objective is for the pilot case Alliances in Europe and Latin America to develop shared visions and adaptive Nexus Management Strategies that will meet the Nexus sectoral objectives as well as broader criteria, such as habitat protection.

The project aimed to study the impact of climate change on the coasts, in the conditions of some RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways)  scenarios regarding the maximum allowable concentrations of greenhouse gases, taking into account the changes in land use and SSP (Shared Socio-economic Pathways) and the socio-economic evolution of the population under certain conditions of the resource use. The project was carried out in accordance with the platform adopted by the scientific community for the study of climate change. Among the case studies approached is the Danube Delta coast. The main objective of the project was to establish climate change adaptation strategies, depending on the characteristics of the study areas.

SOS-Water is a multi-disciplinary project that aims to create the foundation for a holistic and participatory assessment framework of the SOS for the entire water resources system, accounting concurrently for all relevant water dimensions across multiple sectors and spatial scales under the influence of socio-economic, policy, technological, and climatic changes. This framework will help to operationalise and downscale the global freshwater SOS to the continental and river basin levels and to ultimately streamline water planning and management at local to regional levels and beyond such that the allocation of water among societies, economies, and ecosystems will be economically efficient, socially fair, and resilient to shocks.

Worldwide freshwater resources are under increasing pressures of rapidly intensifying climate change effects putting the availability and quality of water resources and socio-economic developments at risk. River basin organisations need to be prepared. STARS4Water aims at improving the understanding of climate change impacts on water resources availability and the vulnerabilities for ecosystems, society and economic sectors at river basin scale.

STRATEGY CCUS is a three-year project supporting the development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), a technology of great importance in the transition to a zero-carbon future. The project focuses on eight regions of Europe identified as promising for CCUS. These regions are located in seven countries and are responsible for almost 45% of industrial and energy-related CO2 emissions in Europe. The 8 regions are: the Paris and Rhone basin (France), the Ebro basin (Spain), the Lusitanian basin (Portugal), Northern Croatia, Upper Silesia (Poland), Western Macedonia (Greece) and the Galați region (Romania).

The Water-ForCE project will develop a roadmap for future Copernicus services that include the study of water (surface, aquifers, atmospheric), taking into account the current challenges faced by researchers, generated by the differences between in-situ and satellite data. The project aims to incorporate the needs and expectations of the public and private sectors into future Copernicus services, in order to contribute to increasing opportunities for innovation and exploitation. The project will facilitate close cooperation between researchers working in aquatic environments and those working with satellite data, as well as a permanent interaction between researchers and societal actors (authorities, managers, environmental policy makers, etc.).